CHESS

TACTICS FOR ADVANCED

PLAYERS
Contents

Introduction. 5
Compilation of technical terms used in the book. 8

Part 1: The double attack. 11

The interrelations between strategy and tactics. 11
Three stages of attack. 14
Methods of defence. 18
The second assault wave. 24
An excursion into the past . 26
The fork. 29
The discovered check. 32
The double check. 37
The two-fold attack on a defended piece . 39
The two-fold attack on two targets . 42
The two-fold attack in conjunction with a pin. 46
The mutual two-fold attack . 50
The double attack. 54
Defence against the double attack. 57
Forcing the double attack. 64
1. The attack. 64
2. Zugzwang. 67
3. The exchange. 69
The sacrifice. 70
Decoy attack. 77
The two-fold double attack. 80
Particulary strong moves. 85
The double attack in the opening. 93
The double attack in the end-game . 99
Studies of double attacks.109
Sample games.117
Summarizing remarks on the double attack.133
Exercises for independent study.137
Solutions .151

Part 2: The combination.157

Co-ordination of piece moves.157
The mechanism of the mating attack.164
Individual contacts.171
1. The attacking contact.172
2. The restricting contact.172
3. The queening threat.172
4. The protective contact.174
5. The interposing contact.174
6. Re futing the queening threat.174
The co-ordinated attack.178
1. The cornered king.179
2. The king on the edge .182
Contacts and combinations in the double attack.188
1. One piece attacks or threatens to attack two objects.189
2. Two pieces attack or threaten to attack an object. 193
3. Two pieces attack two objects. 195
Contacts and combinations with passed pawns.199
What is a combination?.206
Various means of applying force.212
1. The attack.212
2. The threat. 215
3. The exchange.- - 217
4. Zugzwang.219
Kinds of sacrifice.221
Classification of combinations. 230
Winning combinations.235
1. Combinations against the king.235
2. Combinations against pieces and pawns .. 238
3. Queening combinations.239
Drawing combinations. 240
1. Perpetual check.241
2. The stalemate . 242
3. The'blockade.245
4. Perpetual pursuit. ..247
5. Building fortifications. 249
6. Balance of forces leading to a draw.253
The attack on the king.255
The importance of concrete calculation of variants.262
Sample games.268
Exercises for home study.305
Solutions .318

Index of names .323

Index of games .326

 have enhanced the strategy of the
Introduction
middle game, because many differ¬
ent types of middle game positions,
which are characterized by a gen¬
eral plan or a general strategy, have
been analysed extensively and in
depth. Tactics, on the other hand,
We are witnessing at present an un¬ are dominated by chiefly a matter
dreamt-of upswing in the evolution sizing up a concrete situation,
of the theory of chess in general and which makes it difficult to arrive at
of the theory of openings in particu¬ generalizations.
lar. Each year, fresh tomes devoted Of course no one can maintain that
to the study of various opening the theory of tactics has been mark¬
games or particular opening sys¬ ing time. Attempts are made to clas¬
tems or even opening variants ap¬ sify combinations and work out
pear on the book shelves. Nowa¬ ways of facilitating the calculation
days the analyses of some openings of intricate combinations. And yet
continue deep into the middle game on the whole the development of
and even extend to the end-game. the theory of the middle game lags
Not quite so explicit, but still very perceptibly behind the other two
thorough is the study of the end¬ phases of the game.
games. Dozens of positions, which The explanation commonly given is
were once blank spots on the map that the middle game is the most in¬
of the end-game, have been ana¬ volved and difficult phase of the
lysed in detail, assessed and in¬ game. It is by no means easy to un¬
cluded in textbooks on the end¬ derstand it and its laws. That is pre¬
game. cisely why the middle game-more
Turning to the theory of the middle than any other phase—calls for a
game we find that the progress circumspect approach, for easily
made here is by no means as impres¬ comprehensible principles and for a
sive, the development of this phase gradual transition from the simple
being characterized mainly by a to the complex.
rapid growth in the volume of data. Anyone who has taken an interest
Books on the middle game usually in engineering knows that one must
contain hundreds of positions, but first familiarize oneself with the de¬
unlike their predecessors, the prog¬ tails of a machine before trying to
ress made here is reflected chiefly understand how it works. And yet it
by an inreasing number of examples is in the study of the middle game
rather than by a more profound un¬ that the basic principle of pedagog¬
derstanding of this fascinating ics—the necessity of proceeding
phase of the game. But the search from the simple to the complex—is
for new opening systems and their constantly being violated.
elaboration by chess practitioners As a rule one begins learning the

5
middle game and chess tactics by Of the combination it may be said
trying out combinations. Unques¬ with perfect truth that everybody is
tionably, this is one of the most fas¬ fascinated by it, that everybody un¬
cinating and exciting aspects of derstands what it is, but that no¬
chess. The mechanics of even the body seems to be able to give an ex¬
most elementary combination are act definition of the term.
extremely complex. It is advisable to The present book is an attempt to
familiarize oneself thoroughly rescue the theoretical discussion
with its elements before studying from this impasse. We have endeav¬
the combination. When chess wri¬ oured to establish a theoretical basis
ters describe chess combinations that would enable us to pursue
they usually stress the aesthetic and our study of the extremely diverse
emotional aspects, namely the sacri¬ tactical manifestations.
fice, the surprise effect and the; par¬ We have started by examining the
adoxical element of the game.1 most common and elementary situ¬
Without a doubt these aspects are ations arising from confrontations
also important, because they bring between isolated pieces and con¬
out the fascinating side of the game. sider possible methods of attack
But it is even more important to un¬ and defence. Then we gradually
ravel the mystery of the complex proceed to examine the more com¬
mechanics of the combination and plex facets of the game, making
to show its main elements and how sure to preserve continuity by delv¬
they function. ing deeper into positions that have
And still the attempts made so far to already been analysed. We soon
explain the combination mechanism reach the point at which we can ex¬
have not yielded more than a hand¬ amine positions involving double
ful of general and not very conclu¬ attacks. If we regard the term
sive concepts, such as harmony of “double attack” in a broader sense
the pieces or the concerted use of than has been done up to now by
forces. Besides, the debate about theoreticians, namely not merely as
what the term “combination” means a two-pronged attack, but as a com¬
is still continuing. Different authors bination of attacks and threats, we
have interpreted the term in differ- - notice that the double attack in one
ent ways. The reader will recall that form or another is the basis of most
a discussion launched by the Soviet intricate tactical operations.
journal “Shakhmaty v SSSR” on the Considerable space is devoted to
topic “What is a combination?” this topic to convince the student of
failed to produce a good answer, al¬ the truth of this statement, We soon
though it took up a good deal of realize that the double attack is a
space in the periodical. very effective device not only for at¬
But how is one to classify and study tacking but also for defending one’s
combinations if there is no consen¬ position.
sus about the meaning of the term? The author is convinced that this

6
approach makes it easier to find kinds of combination of chessmen
one’s way through the mare of tac¬ and squares on the board must be
tical entanglements and provides a preceded by various contacts be¬
key to understanding the problems tween them. And it is precisely these
of the tactical game. combinations aimed at specific tar¬
The next important step is to find gets that form the basis for develop¬
out the meaning hidden behind ing combinative possibilities. We
such mysterious terms as “harmony believe that we can proceed, with
of pieces” or “co-ordinated use of good prospects of success, not only
forces”. Our aim here is to uncover to acquainting the reader with the
the meaning and the essence of each various combinations occurring in
term. chess, but also to showing him how
This enables us to introduce the to recognize them in their incipient
term “elementary connections” stages and how to prepare them af¬
which we have coined, We discover ter making a detailed study of the
that any tactical operation no mat¬ theory of contacts and their combi¬
ter how complex, can be described nations.
in terms of different combinations In this work we have also been able
of contacts. We soon realize that to answer a fundamental question
the concerted use of forces boils that has occupied the minds of chess
down to the co-ordinated use of theoreticians for many years,
combinations of contacts, i. e. to namely whether combinations are
certain constellations of pawns, an exception or the rule. Contrary
pieces or squares on the chess to the notions of adherents of the
board. It is also demonstrated that positional school, who regard the
most combinative end-games can be combination as an avoidable excep¬
reduced to a few basic co-ordinated tion, we propose to demonstrate
combinations of contacts. that the development of contacts
With the aid of the term contacts and their combinations is a natural
and their combinations a definition development of the chess game.
of the combination is worked out Since the appearance of contacts
and a new and promising system of usually heralds the combination, it
classification is introduced. evolves as a complex and various
But to obtain a thorough knowl¬ consequence of this process.
edge of the theory of contacts and With this work we give the recep¬
their combinations proposed by the tive reader a book that is in the true
author the reader will have to read sense a textbook of tactics and com¬
the book, lx is intended to help him binations, It is designed to help the
fathom the sources of the combina¬ reader master the an of combina¬
tion and to understand the origin tion, which is the highest level of
and function of its mechanics. mastery of the game. It is a pinnacle
Working his way through the book which elevates the game to an an
the reader will realize that various and which—like any other art—is a

7
source of delight which affords the one colour. It occurs when one
practitioner an opportunity to take piece is attacked and another chess¬
part in the act of creation. man (piece or pawn) shields it by
stepping into the line of fire.
Queening threat — this contact de¬
velops between a queening pawn
Compilation and its queening square.
of technical terms Use of the queening threat— the con¬
used in the book tact that occurs between the’king
and the queening square of the op¬
Before delving into the actual sub¬ ponent’s passed pawn approaching
ject matter, the author thought it the queening square.
appropriate to define the terms and Co-ordinated combination of con¬
expressions used in this book. He tacts — deliberate combination of
feels certain that this will facilitate contacts between pieces and pawns
the study of the work and help the of one side aimed at one or two tar¬
reader master the theory of contacts gets. There are two distinct types of
and their combinations. co-ordinated combinations of con¬
Individual contacts — various forms tacts: the combined attack and the
of contact that develop between the double attack.
pieces of one or both sides as well as Combined attack — co-ordinated at¬
between pieces on the one hand and tack by pieces and pawns against a
the squares they control on the hostile chessman, one piece or
other. pawn attacking the chessman, while
Offensive contact— contact between the other attacking pieces or pawns
the attacking piece and the piece it restrict its freedom of movement.
attacks. This is a combination of an offen¬
Restrictive contact— contact that sive contact and a restrictive con¬
develops between any given piece nection. A combined attack may
and pieces of both players that re¬ also Include shielding connections.
strict its freedom of movement by Two-fold attack — co-ordinated at¬
being in its line of fire. Or the con¬ tack by two pieces threatening one
tact that occurs between the piece and the same object (chessman or
and the squares of its normal range square); or the co-ordinated attack
of movement when these squares by two pieces against different ob¬
are attacked by hostile pawns or jects; or the attack by one piece or
pieces. pawn against two objects in the hos¬
Defensive contact— contact that is tile camp. In most cases this involves
normally established between a the combination of two active con¬
player’s pieces and pawns for mu¬ nections.
tual protection. Double attack — this term is broader
Shielding contact— contact that oc¬ than the term “two-fold attack”, be¬
curs between pieces and pawns of cause in addition to being a two-
fold attack it covers the combina¬ The finale of a wi nning combina¬
tion of attacks and threats and even tion can be a combined attack, a
the combination of two threats. The two-fold attack or a double attack.
object of a double attack can be not The finale of a drawing combina¬
only a piece or a pawn, but also tion can be the creation of a posi¬
an important square in the oppo¬ tion in which there is no co-ordi¬
nent’s camp. As a rule a double at¬ nated attack, but only restricting
tack occurs in the form of a combi¬ contacts (stalemate, fortification,
nation of any two of the aforemen¬ blocking), or in which there is an at¬
tioned contacts, but it can also be a tack or a threat, but no complete
combination of strong threats, such restricting contacts (perpetual
as mating, stalemating and perpet¬ check, perpetual pursuit). It goes
ual check threats. without saying that the finale of a
Combination — this term, in its ori¬ drawing combination can also be a
ginal sense, refers to a co-ordinated double attack.
combination of contacts, which ne¬ Stages of attack — the posting of a
cessarily gives a player an advan¬ piece in relation to the object of at¬
tage, or to the conversion of a cer¬ tack. We distinguish, in the order of
tain combination of White and increasing influence, between three
Black pieces into a co-ordinated main stages: the concealed threat
combination, which necessarily (also referred to here as preliminary
gives one side the advantage. A dis¬ threat or threat of the second or¬
tinction is made between winning der), the threat and the attack.
and drawing combinations.

9
 game, involving say a lone king
Parti
against a king and a queen.
The double attack

The interrelations
between strategy
and tactics

The chessboard is a battlefield of

two opposing armies. The two com¬
manding generals have to plan their White’s objective is to mate his op¬
operations and execute them in the ponent’s king. This can be done
only by forcing the king to move to
course of the game, i. e. they are
faced with strategic and tactical one of the peripheral ranks or files.
In the position shown in Diagram 1,
problems which they try to solve.
The reader will recall that strategy White must first force Black’s king
answers the question of what is to to move to a peripheral rank or file
be done, and tactics that of how it is and then mate it with the combined
to be done. These are the two basic forces of the king and the queen.
The sum of the measures taken to
questions with which one is con¬
achieve this end constitutes White’s
stantly confronted with in the
course of a chess game. strategic plan. But the ways and
Generally tactics is considered sub¬ means of forcing the king to move
ordinate to strategy. But on the to the edge of the board lie in the
chessboard the situation is some¬ domain of tactics. To force the king
to the edge of the chessboard one
what different. Although in chess
has to reduce the number of squares
too, tactics ranks second to
strategy, it plays a very important it is free to move on. This can be
done by the queen alone or by the
part in the game. The forces on the
chessboard are limited in quantity, queen acting in concert with the
king. Let us first try the former ap¬
there being no reserves to draw
proach, because it is easier to un¬
upon. A simple mistake due to care¬
derstand.
lessness can result in mate or irre¬
placeable material losses, which 1 &f5
means that any tactical operation
With a single stroke the queen cuts
can prove decisive. To get a clearer
off the king from the fifth file.
idea of the interrelation between
strategy and tactics let us consider 1 .. ,&c6 2 &e5&b6 3 &d5&c7
an elementary example of an end¬ 4 &e6 &b7 5 &d6 &c8 6 &e7...

11
 way as to force the lone king to the
edge of the chessboard
2 Manoeuvring the king to where
the opponent’s king can be check¬
mated
3 Delivering the death blow with
the queen, assisted by the king.
As you see, strategy determined the
overall operation. Tactics played
only a minor role, namely in decid¬
ing how to force the king to the
The first phase of our strategic plan edge of the board, how to avoid
is completed, the king having been stalemate and how to give the actual
forced to move to the peripheral checkmate.
rank. This was done by a special To be sure, our example illustrates
manoeuvre with the queen, which an elementary situation. With no
kept closing in on the king at a danger to fear from his opponent,
knight’s move distance. This is a White’s tactical tasks were quite
tactical method, but the whole pro¬ simple. But even here White could
cess of driving the king to the edge have made a bad mistake that could
of the board was based on a strate¬ have cost him a win which was his
gic concept. To continue driving for the taking. In the more complex,
the king into the corner in this man¬ confused situations that usually oc¬
ner-6 ... Ct?b8 7 «*Jfd7 <£>a8 8 cur in an actual game one can ex¬
i^c7??—would of course be a tacti¬ pect surprises with each new move,
cal error leading to stalemate. Hav¬ which can give the game an entirely
ing confined the king to the last new twist. No matter how well-bal¬
rank, White should now pull up his anced our strategic plan might be,
king. The second phase, in which one tactical mistake can bring it to
the king assumes an active role, is a naught. There is an aphorism in
purely strategic manoeuvre involv¬ chess that is well worth remember¬
ing no tactical considerations at all, ing: forty good moves are often not
for White’s king can approach his enough to win a game, but a single
opposite number along any route, bad one is often enough to lose it.
e. g. 6 ... &b8 7 <&b2 <&c8 8 <&b3 You will have probably experienced
<&b8 9 &b4 <&c8 10 &b5 <&b8 11 this paradox often enough in your
C£?b6 &c8. And now White is set for own chess career* The grandmaster
the kill: 12 &c7 or 12 i^fe8 mate. Teichmann once aptly remarked
Let us recapitulate in brief. The that chess was 90 per cent tactics.
Strategic operation whose objective Each one of us—from beginner to
was to mate Black’s king with the world champion—knows how true
queen consisted of three phases; this is. Let us consider a well-known
1 Manoeuvring the queen in such a situation that occurred in a game

12
played by grandmasters to illustrate 1 &e2 B xb4 2 B xh7+?£ X h7
this point. 3&h5&g8 4£e7Bxg2 +

This turn of events proves that

Kotov—Smyslov White should have advanced his
Budapest 1950 pawn to g3 as a precautionary
measure.

5 &f3 ...

White has achieved a winning

strategic position, whilst in Black’s
position there are organic weak¬ At first glance Black seems to be in
nesses. White’s knight on f5 is bad trouble, But at this point the
ideally posted, and his rooks are laws of tactics come into effect. The
aimedath7.A properly executed next move brings about a radical
attack against the Black king should change.
end in a win for White. All White
has to do is involve the queen in the 5 S f2 +!
offensive, but Black restricts its This counter-sacrifice enables
freedom of movement by threaten¬ White to mobilize his dispersed
ing to take the pawn on b4 with his heavy pieces in an attack on the
rook. White’s plan therefore should king.
be to give up the pawn at an oppor¬
tune moment and throw all his for¬ 6&xf2 Bb2+ 7&e2
ces at h7. It goes without saying Any other move would be fatal, but
that such an operation should be after7 .. . 0 x e2 + 8 x e2
properly planned. The best thing to %2+ 9&dl(9&el &a5+ 10
do would be to advance the pawn to &dl &d2mate)9 ... M\ +
g3 in order to prevent a possible at¬ White loses a rook and is forced to
tack on the king. Instead, White resign.
launches a headlong offensive with¬
out due consideration of che conse¬ Another fantastic example on the
quences. This is what happened: same theme.

13
Hubner—Petrosyan Black was able to make deadly
Interzonal Tournament, Biel 1976 threats, e. g. 5 gf ^ x f4 4- 6 £lg3
^ff2+ 7 Ag2 l^fgl mate. In a des¬
perate attempt to turn the tide of
battle White played 5 £lf2 & X f2 6
0 xh7+ hoping for 6 .. . & x h7?
7 ^g8 4- and mate in two. But
Black replied with 6 ... ^g5! and
White resigned. This end-game
provides rich material for the psy¬
chologist.

Three stages
of attack

Black’s position is hopeless. He is How to checkmate the opponent’s

two pawns down and there seems to king? To answer this basic question,
be no way to protect himself against the player has to solve a number of
2 e8 and ^ x d3. Only four moves strategic and tactical problems. The
remain till the time check. Both situation is somewhat different in a
players were in time trouble, al¬ contest in which the end of the
though not desperately so. Black game is in sight, where the oppo¬
played nent’s king has been pushed to¬
wards the ed ge of the chessboard and
1 . ..^d6
deprived of its defending pieces. In
At this point White could have this case giving mate is a purely tac¬
mated his opponent in four moves: tical problem. Let us see how it is
2 ^e8 + <£>g7 3 0e7+ <£>h64 solved by considering once again an
l^f8 + <£>h5 5 2 x h7 mate, but he elementary example of an end¬
preferred to cover the pawn and game in which the lone king is con¬
played 2 g3?, Black replied 2 . .. fronted with a king and a queen.
£l X f4?, although he could have
got at least equal chances by 2 ... 6
The knight sacrifice he offers
by him is weak, because only White
can win after 3 gf. Instead, White
belatedly mounted the very attack
that would have given him a win
one move earlier. But after 3 i^e8 +
d?g7 4 2 e7 + ?? (even at this point
it would still not have been too late
to take the knight) 4 .. . &h6

14
 While’s king has taken up a threat¬
ening position opposite his adver¬
sary, so that all the queen has to do
is to deliver the final blow. If we ex¬
amine all positions which the queen
can take up vis-a-vis the Black king
we realize that they can be classified
into three groups. The squares
marked “0” in the Diagram are
those from which the king is check¬
mated, Squares marked “1” are
those from which the queen can
move to give mate. From squares
White has several ways of mating
marked “2” the queen cannot move
the king in two. If he plays the
direct to a mating square. Thus it
queen to b5, e4, el or g6, the threat¬
follows that the queen assumes a
ened mate on e8 cannot be parried.
checkmating position in three
By playing his queen to h7, White
moves, executing a manoeuvre in
mates Black’s king on 1 ... &c8 by
three stages, i. e. the first stage pos¬
2 ^Tc7. If he plays his queen to fS,
ing no direct threat, the second
he mates the king by 2 T£&rf8, There
threatening mate and the third be¬
are two more solutions in addition
ing the actual mating position.
to the six mentioned: 1 l&cl and 1
The reader will have gathered that
^fc2. These moves do not look like
from squares marked “2” check¬
threats, but Black is in Zugzwang
mate is imminent, but that the ac¬
and is forced to vacate square c8 for
tual mating position can be reached the queen by moving to a8. We
in two moves. It would be more pre¬ kno;v from problem chess that there
cise to say that the first stage is also
are only two possible lines that can
a threat, i. e. a threat of the second
be taken in solving mate-in-two
order, and that the second stage is a
problems, i. e. by making a threat or
threat of the first order. But this has by creating a Zugzwang.
no bearing on the course of events:
The different ways in which the
with every move the queen exerts
moves of the king and queen can be
more pressure on the king.
co-ordinated to bring about a mat¬
One should bear in mind of course
ing position are worth examining:
that mate in two can be given not
only by way of a threat. Let us see
what happens for instance when the
queen is onbl.

IS
 posted on the last rank deprives the
opponent’s king of only one square
(namely d7) in the seventh rank,
while the king controls the two re¬
maining squares in this rank.
The most active part played by the
king is in the third case: it cuts off
the opponent’s king from three
squares, while the queen covers the
three remaining squares. A mate in
which the squares round the oppo¬
nent’s king are covered only once is
sometimes referred to by chess
problem composers as a pure check¬
mate. But the queen’s capacity is
not fully made use of in the given
case: a rook would suffice for the
job. Such important tactical con¬
cepts as stages of attack are used
not only in mating positions. In
chess the means are just as import¬
ant as the end,' the means often in¬
volving the elimination of the oppo¬
nent’s pieces or achieving material
superiority. Let us examine a con¬
test between thekinganda corn¬
ered knight as a case in point.

In the first case, the queen has to

shoulder most of the burden. It
covers all squares round the oppo¬
nents king and then delivers the In this case too the individual stages
death blow. Here, White’s king of attack can be easily distin¬
only backs up the queen without di¬ guished. The king attacks the
rectly taking pan in the attack. knight from square b7. The king
In the second case, the queen threatens to attack the knight from

16
squares a6, c6 and c8. And finally, You will notice that from its posi¬
from squares a5, b5, c5, d5, d6, d7 tion on d5 the bishop has put the
and d8, the king does not yet knight completely out of action.
threaten the knight, but he is poised From squares marked “1” the
to assume a threatening posture. In bishop does not yet threaten to put
other words, we see the same three the knight out of commission, but it
stages of attack here, but in this case can threaten to do so on the next
we have one piece being attacked by move. Here again we see the three
another. phases of attack.
But our analysis of the situation These phases can also be observed
with the cornered knight is incom¬ in the king’s struggle with a pawn in
plete. The reader will have noticed the end-game. The pawn is trying
that all White has to do is post his to reach the queening square and
king on c6, thereby cornering the the opponent’s king is in hot pur¬
knight (the king coveres squares c7 suit. We can also see some charac¬
and b6). As soon as we realize the teristic tactical features here.
special features of this position we
can extend the operating radius of
the White king. Thus the king
threatens to capture the knight
from the squares marked “1*, from
the squares marked “2” the king
cannot yet threaten the knight, but
it is poised to take up a threatening
stance from here.
The different phases of attack can
also be distinguished in positions in
which no attempt is made to cap¬
ture a piece, but only to put it out of From the squares in the quadrangle
action. Let us examine the struggle al—aS—eS—el, the king can catch
between a bishop and a knight up with the pawn on a5; from the
posted on the edge of the board. squares of the bigger quadrangle
a 1—a6—f6—f 1 the king can threaten
12 to stop the pawn. And finally from
the additional squares of the qua¬
drangle al—a7—g7—gl the king
does not threaten to intercept the
pawn; but if White has the move it
can assume a threatening position.
The concept we have introduced of
phases of attack is a very important
one. These phases determine the na¬
ture of the struggle in any position,

17
that is why they should be seen as a considerable extent by the player’s
elementary tactical possibilities. ingenuity, his combinative perspi¬
The more attacks and threats a po- cacity and his tactical skills. The de¬
sition entails, the richer it is in tacti¬ velopment of these skills is an im¬
cal possibilities. Any position, no portant phase on the road to achiev¬
matter how complex it might seem, ing excellence.
can be (as we shall demonstrate la¬
ter on) broken down into these ele¬
mentary components, i. e. attacks
and threats of the first and second Methods of defence
order. The terms “attack” and
“threat” are not new. They are used We have become acquainted with
by theoreticians in the study of the elementary means of attack.
problems of the middle game and Now we must find out how an at¬
by problem pundits in working out tack can be warded off. When a
a theory of chess composition. But piece is attacked there are four pos¬
as soon as these terms were intro¬ sible ways of responding. Let us ex¬
duced, most theoreticians immedi¬ amine them in their proper order.
ately turned their attention to the
study of difficult middle game prob¬ — change of posting
lems in general and combinative sit¬
uations in particular without using — support from other
them themselves. And yet these sim¬ pieces
Attack
ple elementary concepts constitute
the unifying framework of most — blocking
tactical positions, making them
amenable to synthetic analysis. The — counterattack
term “initial phase of attack” which
we have coined—and which can 1. Change of posting
also be called preliminary threat or
threat of the second order—is en¬ This manoeuvre can be either pas¬
tirely new and quite important. It is, sive or active. If the piece in ques¬
as-it were, a signpost showing the tion is moved back under the pro¬
direction in which the attack is to tective umbrella of its pieces and
develop. Attacks and threats can pawns, the defence is said to be pas¬
normally be seen with the ‘naked sive. But if it is moved forward or to
eye‘, they are easy to recognize. But the side to harass the attacker or
a preliminary threat often escapes some other hostile piece, then it is
notice at a cursory glance; a certain said to be active.
amount of skill is needed to recog¬
nize them.
The ability to recognize hidden tac¬
tical opportunities is determined to

18
 2. Support 4. The counterattack
from other pieces
If the situation permits, one can dis¬
In this case the piece attacked does regard the attack altogether and
mount one's own offensive against
not leave its posting. Instead, an¬
other piece is brought forward to a hostile piece. In such a case the
defend it. But in this case an ex¬ piece attacked and left unprotected
is said to hang. In this connection it
change is possible. It goes without
saying that this technique can be should be mentioned that hung
used only if the attacking piece is of pieces afford much scope for tacti¬
equal or greater value than the cal manoeuvres. An opponent’s
piece attacked. piece at which the attack is aimed
should be at least equal or higher in
value so as not to lose the exchange.
There is of course nothing new
3. Blocking the
about what we said about the means
line of fire of defence. One learns all these ele¬
of the attacking piece mentary methods of defence at the
very beginning of one’s chess ca¬
An attacking piece that can move reer, It was only intended to show
across the whole board can be how plentiful are the resources that
blocked by moving a piece or pawn chess offers in the way of defence.
into its line of fire, thereby shielding You will probably have noticed that
the attacked piece. As a rule the one does not always have a free
blocking piece should at most be of choice of all these methods in any
equal or lesser value than the at¬ given situation. There are only two
tacking piece. It is also important to ways of warding off an attack on
bear in mind that it should be the king: one can change its posting
covered either by the piece attacked or block it. An attacking knight can¬
or by some other piece. not be blocked, and a piece at¬
If the blocking piece is of the same tacked by a pawn must try to evade
type as the attacking piece (i. e. the attack. Let us examine a case in
bishop and bishop, bishop and which one piece is attacked by an¬
queen, rook and rook, rook and other. If the former evades a con¬
queen), then it threatens the attack¬ flict by retreating, a clash is
ing piece when it is played to the avoided. But if one of the remaining
blocking position. Such a situation methods of meeting an attack is
can be regarded as a reciprocal at¬ used, then a single battle, an ele¬
tack, in which case the initial at¬ mental clash, ensues. The first thing
tacker has to think of ways of coun¬ an attack produces is a disturbed
tering the counterthreat. That is equilibrium. It is then restored, but
why this method of defence is re¬ not fully, through defence. For in¬
garded as the most effective. stance, in supporting a piece or

19
blocking an attack, another piece is
drawn into the conflict. This com¬
plicates the situation. The mobility
and fighting capacity of this third
piece, which is as it were chained to
the piece it defends, are reduced.
The objective of a tactical operation
can be to burden one’s opponent
with such an immobilized piece.
Here is a classical example of an
end-game to illustrate this point.

Black chains White’s rook to the

pawn at a6 by 1 . .. B f61 If the
pawn advances then 2 ... S a6.2
d?b5 is followed by 2 ... Sf5+ 3
d?c6 Sf6+ 4 d?c7 Bf7+ 5 Ct>d6
Hf6+ 6 d?e7 Sb6 etc.

White’s rook is tied to defending

the pawn at a7 and deprived of its
freedom of movement. In this man¬
ner Black succeeds in fully neutral¬
izing White’s superiority and in sav¬
ing the end-game. The method of
defence is very simple indeed: White to play
White’s rook must be kept tied to
defending the pawn. To do this. Here White ties the rook to the de¬
White’s king must be driven off fence of the pawn at g2 by 1 A f3!
whenever it tries to get near the after which Black is unable to free
pawn. himself, e. g. 1 ... d?c2 (the threat
An analogous, but somewhat more of 2 ... Bbl + is parried by White
difficult defensive method, which is by moving his king behind Black’s
also based on the tying down of a king before the rook can give
piece, is shown in the next diagram. check) 2 d?c4 dbd2 3 d?d4 d?e 1 4
<t?e3 <t?f 1 .Black is determined to
fight for his freedom, but White re¬
stores the original situation by 5
&e2 + <£>el 6 &f3. Hence a draw.

20
A unique situation on the theme of advantages. This also applies to
tying down pieces is shown in Dia¬ blocking. The fighting capacity of
gram 17. an interposed piece may be im¬
paired even more than that of a tied
M. Liburkin, 1946 one.
Conclusion of a study A piece used for shielding its king
against an attack can be chained to
it so firmly that it loses all its mobil¬
ity and firepower. Even experienced
masters often tend to forget this.
Let us consider the following very
instructive example,

Makogonov—Chekhover
Tbilisi 1937

What should Black do? If 1 ...e5

then 2 £lf7, and Black is unable to
cover his pawn and avoid move
repetition. His king is securely
pinned in the corner, for a move by
it would deprive the rook of the
square e5 in view of the knight fork
atc6. This means that Black has no
choice but to move the rook.
White was not worried by 1 ...
1 . .. Be2 + 2&d3 Sel3&d2 0f8 because, seeing as the hostile
0e4 4 &d3 Se5 5&c3!... rook is tied to defending the king
This fine move again forces Black and is unable to attack the piece on
to decide what to do next. By 5 ... f6, he thought he could counter the
0c5 + he makes the last attempt to move with 2 Sd8. But White forgot
improve his position, but after 6 that his queen too was rendered
<2?b4 he is forced to turn back: completely powerless. After 2 ,..
6 ... Se5 7&c3! tSih4 +! he had to acknowledge de¬
feat because he lost his queen.
Let me stress once again that a tied
piece is a serious positional handi¬
cap and that a tactical operation
aimed at tying an opponent’s piece
can be a means of gaining certain

21
 Euwe—Alekhine
Amsterdam 1935

To force one’s opponent to burden

himself with a pinned piece can be
the objective of a tactical operation.
White to play

A. Troitzky, 1924 Black’s bishop is pinned, but Black

threatens to extricate himself by
1 . .. &b5. White frustrates this at¬
tempt by 1 0 a 2!, a brilliant move.
Now 1 . .. &b5 can be answered
simply by 2 cb to cover the rook.
Since Black was unable to free him¬
self, White won easily by advancing
his pawns on the K-side.
When a piece protects any piece
other than the king, the protected
piece being stronger than its defen¬
White to play and win der, then the latter’s fighting capac¬
ity is diminished because its retreat
After 1 + Black has to defend will result in loss in material. But
himself by 1 .. . 0g5, thereby pin¬ one should remember that in excep¬
ning his rook. White’s task now is tional situations the knot can be
to capture Black’s pawn without al¬ severed by sheer force.
lowing his opponent to unpin his
rook. This is how he goes about do¬
ing it: 2 &f7 a4 3 &h2 a3 4 &h3 a2
5 & x a2 (t? x h5. For a moment
Black thinks he is safe. But then
comes 6 &f7+, and Black suc¬
cumbs to a deadly pin, e. g. 6 ...
0g6 7 &h2 or6 ... &h6 7 &e8!

22
Tarrasch— Tsbigorin White did this in order not to lose
Petersburg 1893 any pawns. He had anticipated
8 ... & x d7 and 8 ... fi x d7.
But the unexpected happened.
8 ... x d7!! and having lost a
piece, White was forced to resign.

The scope of defensive moves is

broader if initially there is no at¬
tack, but only threats. In this case
the same four defensive methods
are used, but here they are em¬
ployed as preventive measures.

The knight at f3 is pinned, but after

1. The evacuation
1 £l x f6+ gf, White disregards the
pin and plays 2 x e5! This means
One can for instance leave the
that the pin was only apparent, be¬
danger zone before the attack takes
cause after 2 ... & x dl» Black is
place. A classical example of this de¬
checkmated in two moves by 3
fensive method is the evacuation of
& x f7 + and 4 & h6, which shows
the king during the opening game
that the reply 2 ... de 3 & x g4 was
by castling. Or one can take the ac¬
forced and that White won a pawn.
tive line of play by advancing a
Here is a very recent example. This
piece (this does not apply to the
version of the English opening was
king) early in the game in order to
played by Razuvayev—Kupreitchik
launch an attack before the enemy
at Dubna in 1970:1 c4 e5 2 £)c3
does or to assume a threatening
£lc6 3 £lf3 f5 4 d4 e4 5 ^g5 £)f6.
posture.
Instead of moving away the knight,
White lets himself be drawn into an
exchange of blows by 6 d 5 ef 7 dc fg 2. Support
8 cd +.
23 Let us assume that one of our pieces
is in danger of being attacked. If
there are no pieces or pawns in its
vicinity which could support k, they
could be moved up in advance to
give support when it is needed. Bur
if there are pieces within reach
which can give support, they can be
drawn up before the attack materi¬
alizes.

23
3. The blockade The second assault wave

If a player has to block an attack, he The first assault has been parried.
can move up pieces or pawns, but if The defence was sufficient to ward
they are already available then they off the offensive. The piece at¬
can be posted to block the files, tacked has been given support or
ranks and diagonals in question in shielded by another piece. But the
advance. If we have warded off a struggle is not over. If the opponent
threat before it materialized, our has reserves, he will throw them
opponent can still carry out his at¬ into a fresh offensive thrust or
tack, but it would be confined to the mount an offensive. The combat
blocking piece, which in this case zone expands.
too would result in a pin. Let us first consider a situation in
which the piece under attack is sup¬
ported by another piece. In this case
4, Anticipating two kinds of offensive tactics can be
the opponent's used:
active operations

One can initiate offensive opera¬ 1. Second attack on a

tions or occupy the most forward defended piece
rank with pieces, depriving one’s
opponent of a chance to do so first We shall call this a two-fold attack
and threatening the opponent’s of¬ because a second piece is involved.
fensive pieces even before they can If for some reason the piece under
engage in offensive operations. attack cannot be withdrawn or de¬
Questions of anticipating threats fended by another piece, it is lost.
and preventing activities on the part
of the opponent belong more in the
realm of strategy than tactics. Some 2, Attack on the
of them are dealt with in the open¬ defending piece
ing — in mobilizing forces and oc¬
cupying the centre — others in the This kind of attack is even more
middle game when drawing up a dangerous, for the defending piece
plan of the game. cannot move away leaving its
We shall deal mainly with attacks charge unprotected. If in such an at¬
and threats (of the first and second tack the defending piece itself can¬
order) that are of a marked tactical not be protected by another piece or
nature and which are directly con¬ by a pawn, the entire defence bul¬
nected with the opponent’s aggres¬ wark collapses like a house of cards.
sive operations. Basically, this too is a two-fold at¬
tack, the only difference being that
two pieces are attacked: the piece

24
 “mum.imimmiiimmmmummmnmimmjiwwmmmtUH

being defended and the defending 2. A second attack

piece.
on the blocking piece
If the piece being attacked is
blocked by another piece then there
This is a true two-fold attack. All
are two possible kinds of attack:
these devices used in the second as¬
sault wave are represented in the di¬
LA second attack agram below.
on the blocked piece Particularly interesting situations
arise when the piece being attacked
from another direction
is left unprotected and a counterat¬
tack is mounted instead. Different
If the attacking pieces act along one
responses are conceivable, e. g. one
line, then the attack can prove to be
can attack the other hostile piece or
a two-fold attack, because both the
one can withdraw one’s own piece,
blocked and the blocking piece are
but the best course to take is to
threatened.
move the piece to a safe place, at the
same time attacking one of the op¬
ponent’s pieces. This way two of his
pieces are in danger, only one of
which he can save in a single move
however. As a result of a two-fold
attack he loses material. Here is an
example illustrating this point.

second attack on the defended piece

j— support
attack on the defending piece
Attack —

second attack on the blocked piece

— blocking
second attack on the blocking piece

25
Maciewski—A verbakb oughly familiar with the mechanics
Polanica Zdroj 1976 of its action and with its causes in
order to make effective use of this
powerful weapon.

An excursion
into the past
The two-fold attack—or more pre¬
cisely a special case of the fork—as
an important and dangerous offen¬
sive method was recognized by our
forefathers at the beginning of the
era of modern chess.
In this position Black attacks
To prove this let us take a glance at
White’s knight at d5 by 1 ... c6.
one of the first textbooks on chess
White disregards the attack and
entitled "Libro da imparare giocare
threatens square f7 by 2 Sf3? But
a scacchi” by the Portuguese author
Black answers 2 ... £)e5. In this
Damiano of Altemira, which ap¬
manner Black covers the pawn at f7
peared in Rome in 1512. The book
and attacks the rook at f3, the
enjoyed great popularity, was pub¬
knight d5 hanging anyway. Here
lished in several editions and made
we have a typical case of two-fold
a substantial contribution to the
attack. This situation cannot be
spread of chess in Western Europe.
remedied by 3 £lf6+ (t?g7, be¬
Damiano devotes a whole chapter
cause again two of White’s pieces
to the fine points of the game, giv¬
are threatened. The result is that
ing many examples of the two-fold
White has to reconcile himself to a
attack. We shall find it instructive to
loss in material.
study them.
Although the two-fold attack is a
more complex offensive method
than the simple attack, its effects are
more lasting. It can develop from an
attack of two pieces on one, or of
two pieces on two pieces. It goes
without saying that a single piece
can also execute a two-fold attack.
The two-fold attack is considered
one of the most effective tactical
methods in chess. For this reason
we shall examine all its basic fea¬
tures. It is very important to be thor¬

26
This is the first example given by Although this is true, on analysing
Damiano. The author cautions the the position we notice that White
reader not to take the pawn at h3 should still play 1 g7, but in re¬
because after 2 B x e6 + and 3 sponse to 1 . . . B x a2 he should
£) f4 +, Black loses a piece. continue 2 B b6 + <&e5 3 B e6 + !
instead of 2 g8(^f)?
The immediate attempt 3 B g6 is in¬
adequate because 3 . . . B g2 + 4
<£h5 Bh2+ 5&g4 Bg2 +
(draw), because the king cannot
abandon the rook. But now Black
cannot capture the rook, because 4
g8(<&) -|- and 5 & x a2; but if the
king steps aside, the decisive move
is 4 Sg6.

In this position both players pro¬

mote their pawns at the same time:
I . ..f4 2a5f3 3a6f2 4a7fl(&)5
a8 but Black captures White's
short-lived queen by a two-fold at¬
tack: 5 ... &bl + 7 <&a5 &al +.

Damiano gives this example to de¬

monstrate another knight fork; 1
^ x e5 x e5 2 £) f7 + and 3
£] x e5.
The next position illustrates the
two-fold attack by a rook.

Damiano notes that to White’s 1 g7

Black can reply 1 .. . B x a2, be¬
cause after 2 g8(t&) Black has a
two-fold attack 2 ... Bg2 + and
3 .. . 0 x g8.

27
White to play White to play

i B X e6 4- and if 1 . . . (£? X e6 The pawn atb7 is reliably pinned by

then 2 B a6 4- and 3 B X h6, win¬ the bishop, making it possible to
ning a piece. give mate in two: 1 ^ X a6 4- and 2
^ x b7 mate.
A more complicated example on the
theme of pinning is shown in the
next diagram.

White to play

This example illustrates the capture

of a rook by a two-fold attack: 1
B d 8 4-, Black's rook is tied to the
queen and may not leave it, but
1 ... C$?a7 is followed by 2 B x e8. The only answer Black has to 1
The theme of pinning in conjunc¬ &f5 4- is 1 ... &d7, but by playing
tion with a two-fold attack is illus¬ 2 B xd7! B x d7 White exchanges
trated by the following elementary his rook for the bishop in order to
example. burden his opponent with a pinned
rook, which is then captured in the
following manner: 3 £lc5 Bg7 4
Bdl.

28
 Pb. Stamma, 1737

Black to play

Here we see the lifting of a pin and White to play

the capture of a rook: 1 ...
0 x al +! 2 x at ab. In conclu¬
After 1 Sd8 + &b7 2 Bb8 + !
sion, Damiano gives an example
&xb83£lc6+ White captures
showing how a fork can come in
the queen with the aid of a fork.
handy in queening. The fork—a special case of the two¬
fold attack—was studied carefully
by our forefathers.

The fork
At a very early stage in our chess ca¬
reer we become acquainted with the
very simple concept of two-fold at¬
White to play tack. The fork—a simultaneous at¬
tack by one piece or pawn on two
White distracts the knight c6 and units—is nothing other than a spe¬
gets a queen by means of a two-fold cial case of the two-fold attack. The
attack 1 £ld4 + . fork is particularly dangerous, be¬
Here is another example from the cause two pieces are attacked simul¬
distant past. taneously and the opponent can
save only one of them in one move.
It is generally assumed that forks
are created only by pawns or
knights. Here for instance is an in¬
teresting position in which a fork
makes a pawn stronger than a rook.

29
 !}

G. Kasparyan, 1940 H. Rinck, 1935

Conclusion of a study

Even the long diagonal proved too

How can one win in this position? If short for the bishop to escape from
1 0h8 + , Black answers 1 . . . the knight’s stubborn pursuit. See
&xh8 2d8(&) + Ct?h7. But if for yourself: 1 £)f7 &al 2 &bl! If
White does not sacrifice his rook the bishop tries to flee to f6 or g7,
and plays 1 e6 instead, then Black White replies with 3 £)d6 + and 4
answers I ... Sg7 2 0c8 Sal, e8 +, but if it is played to c3 or
threatening mate by 3 ... Shi. d4, then White replies with 3
The solution is brilliantly sinqple: 1 £)d6+ and 4 £)b5+.
Se8!! S X d7 2 e6 and Black re¬ Basically, these attacks (by one
signed. The move 1 S e8 is very im¬ piece against two others) are in no
portant. To any other move (for in¬ way different from the “fork at¬
stance 1 .. . Sc8) Black-would, af¬ tacks” with a bishop or rook against
ter 2 e6, offer a sacrifice 2 . . . S d8 two pieces.
to save himself.
The next position demonstrates the
strength of a knight fork.

30
White plays 1 g8(&)-l- and after account of 2 Bb7£la6 3 Ba7
1 .., d? x g8 forks the rook by 2
2 Bb5...
£kd5 +.
White threatens a two-fold attack
by 3 B c5, thereby forcing the
bishop to withdraw,

1 ... &d8 3 Bd5 &e7

The threat was 4 B d6, whilst 3 ..,

^h4 would have been followed by
the fork 4 B h5 +; White’s decisive
reply to 3 ... Af6 would again
have been 4 Bd6.
4 B d7 (£)g6 5 Bc7, and White
wins.
Even the king can carry out a fork¬
This position is similar to the one like attack.
above. White continues with 1
a8(i&) + and, after 1 ,,, Ox a8, A. Troitzky, 1896
captures the rook by 2 &f3 + . Corrected version 1922
Conclusion of a. study
L. Kubbel, 1923

White to play and win

Black is two pieces up, but White
Here White manages to capture succeeds in capturing one of them
one of his opponent’s minor pieces by means of a “king fork".
with the aid of a rook fork:
Ic7£lb7 2c8(£l)!!...
1 Bb3£c6
In this manner White gets Black to
1 .,, £ld7 loses immediately on ac¬ play his bishop to c8,2 c8(l&)
count of 2 Bb7 and 1 ... £&c7 on would have ended in a loss, because

31
Black’s reply would have been a But Black’s rook still stands quite
fork2 ... 2d6-f. insecure, and White manages to
convert this to his advantage by a
2 . . . & xc8 3&b6!. . .
series of keen-witted moves.
White threatens to attack both of
2 &e3+ &a4 3 &a7+ &b3 4
Black’s pieces. There is no way out
&f7+ &a4 5&d7+ &a5 6
of this dilemmaj because 3 ... £)d6
&d8+ &b5 7&b8 + &c4
would still be followed by 4 {£?c7
with a two-fold attack. It goes with¬ All Black’s attempts to hide his king
out saying that the powerful queen, behind the knight prove futile.
thanks to its extraordinary ability to
8&f4+ &c5 9&f8+!...
carry out two-fold attacks, is parti¬
cularly dangerous. The telling final blow! No matter
where the king turns, it and the
rook are “forked”. For instance, if
H. Rinck, 1949
Black plays 9 ... <&c4 or 9 ...
<£>b5, White plays 10 i&fl +, but if
the former plays 9 .. . Ct>c6 or
9 . . . Cbd5, White replies 10
&f3 + .

The discovered check

One of the most thoroughly ex¬
amined cases of two-fold attack is
the discovered check, in which two
White to play and win pieces take part in an attack.

A. Troitzky, 1896
White’s position looks precarious
Conclusion of a study
indeed, Black threatening mate by
1 ... 33 gl. But by 1 i&d4! White
not only parries the threat, but
himself poses a threat to Black’s
rook and knight. Black loses imme¬
diately by both 1 . . . Sg6 (because
of 2 T^rd.3 ) and by 1 .. . 2 g3 (on
account of 2 l&d5+ £t>c3 3
i&e5 ■+). The best reply is for the
knight to move towards the king
without delay:

1 . ..£b 4 White to play and win

Let us start off with an elementary store to save the situation. It is
example. White plays 1 0c8! based on discovered check.
threatening to queen. 1 . . . 0 X a7
1_«S9rd3+!!
is followed by 2 ££>b6 +.
The mechanics of this two-fold at¬ Black sacrifices his queen to set the
tack is simplicity itself. One piece stage for a discovered check. If the
gives check, while the other attacks king sidesteps, Blacks follows up
any hostile piece or pawn. Since the with 2 ... x bl, threatening the
opponent has to protect his king, capture of White’s bishop at cl. But
his piece is lost. if White decides to take Black’s
One does not always notice imme¬ queen at d3, Black captures White’s
diately that a discovered check can queen after 2 . . , A x c6 + and
be given. The reader will see from 3 ... A x a4 and ends up with one
the following position that occa¬ pawn up.
sionally it takes time to recognize
such a situation. Kazhdan—Ho rowitz
New York 1939

Isakov—Nikitin
Correspondence game 1947

In this position Black would have

Black to play achieved a marvellous win had he
played 1 , . . A x f 1 + 2 ^ x h5
Black’s position looks critical. He is 0 xf2+ 3&hl Ag2 + 4&gl
one piece down and White is threat¬ 0 xe2+ 5 (£)h2 Af3 +. In the end
ening to give mate in two by 1 the discovered check would have
A x d7 + S xd7 2 0b8. And yet enabled him to recapture the queen
he has a wonderful manoeuvre in and to win a piece.

33
Furman—Smyslov A. Herbstman, 1948
Moscow 1949 Conclusion o/a study

Black has a substantial advantage in

White played 1 ^fb2!, threatening material but is unable to exploit it.
to attack the pawn at g6 with his
knight and to checkmate his oppo¬ 1 Bf5+ &e6 2 Be5+ &d6
nent in short order. If Black replies One might think the game was
2 .. . hg, he is checkmated by 3 over, there being apparently no way
Hh3. But if 2 . ..&xg6then3 of giving a meaningful check. But
Sg3-K There is no defence against White springs a surprise: 3 0d5+!!
the attack on g6. After the best re¬ the rook is unassailable because if
ply possible in these circumstances, Black plays 3 ... <2? x d5, he leaves
i. e, 1 .. . £lc4, White plays 2 himself open to a discovered attack
£}Xg6+ *^f X g6 3 H x c4 + <^g 7 with a check: 4 c4 +, and the queen
4 tifiSf Xg7 + &xg7 5 Sc7 + &f6 6 is lost. That is why the king tries to
f4 and achieves an overwhelming flee.
positional advantage with a pawn
3 ... (£)c6 4 Bc5+!!&b6 5
up.
Bb5+!!&a66 Ha5+!!
The two-fold attack in the form of
discovered check or a discovered No matter on which square Black’s
attack coupled with check can also king tries to capture the rook, it is
be used as a means of defence. constantly faced with a discovery
and a check, which costs Black his
queen. Thus White manages to end
the game with a draw.
The discovered check is part of a
well-known tactical manoeuvre,
which we refer to as the transposi¬
tion of the two-fold attack from
one point to another.

34
 An interesting position in which the
discovered check proves to be
harmless again is shown in the next
diagram.

A ve rbakh—Bo n da revsk i
Moscow 1948

White forces mate in four: 1

A x h7 + &h8 2 &g6 + &g8 3
#h7 + «S?f8 4 tfiSf x f7 mate.
How can one defend oneself
against a discovered check? This is
shown in the following example.

Tshigorin—Guns berg
Havana 1890 Black’s position looks ominous, be¬
Game version cause the bishop at e3 is hanging
and there is a threat of 1 ...
S Xg2+ 2 &xg2 £c3+ by
which Black captures the queen.
White has only one, but a fully ade¬
quate, way of dealing with the situ¬
ation: 1 A x e4! A x e4 2 Ag5\He
attacks the bishop at e4, at the same
time blocking the dangerous g-file.
White’s defence is based on the fact
that 2 .. . A x g2 3 A x e7 is not
dangerous, because after 3 ...
&f3+ 4<S?fl Ag2+ Black has
achieved nothing more than a per¬
petual check.
Black has set up a discovered check,
but has no time to implement it, be¬ The reader will no doubt know that
cause after 1 ^fe6+ d?h8 2 & x f5! discovered check is the mainspring
White begins to harass the black of such a complex tactical operation
queen. If for instance 2 . . . #g5 as the “double mill”.
then 3 f4! itl x f5 4 itl x f5 S x f5 5
& x g2, and White wins.

35
Tone—Lasker First of all the king has to parry a
Moscow 1925 series of checks:

1 &xe2 + <£>el 2 &b5+ £e5 3

B x e5 + &e2 4 B x e2 + <2?fl

The situation has changed and

Black has to ward off further checks
by the bishop.

5 Be4 + £d36&xd3+ Be27

&xe2+ <£>el

Now it is the rook’s turn to molest

the king again. We see the outlines
of an original, exquisite finale tak¬
ing shape.

Here we have a classical example of 8 &g4+ <£>f!

the double mill, whose wheels be¬ White has made mincemeat of a
gan to turn after 1 Af6! & x h5 2 string of Black’s pieces, but what
B x g7 + <£>h8 followed by 3 should he do now? He decides to
B xf7 + <£>g8 4 Bg7+ <£>h8 5 try to win the game by checkmate.
S Xb7+ <£>g8 6 Bg7+ <£>h8 7
Bg5+ d?h7 8 B x h5. 'White won 9<£d2 B xg4 10 B Xg4 hl<&) 11
after achieving superiority in mate¬ S c4, and there is no defence
rial. against the mate.
By now you are probably convinced
Here is a somewhat different ver¬ of the effectiveness of the dis¬
sion of the double mill, which might covered check. But the next exam-
be called the “meatgrinder”. ple.is even more delightful.

I. Hoch, 1973
W. Mees, 1973
Conclusion of a study

36
I.Hi...

At first glance it seems rather futile By means of double check the rook
for White to try to win with his gradually forces the king to retreat
rook against a queen. The best line into the corner a8, where in the end
to take is to exchange his rook for it is checkmated. 1 S f2 4- <£>e3 2
the queen and call it a draw. But in¬ 0f3 + CDe4 3 Se3+ <£>d4 4
stead he moves back his bishop: 1 0e4 + &>d5 5 Sd4+ <&c5 6
^d7!! Wherever the queen moves 0d5 + <&c6 7 0c5 + &>b6 8
it succumbs to the rook by dis¬ Oc6+ <&b7 9 Sb6+ &a7 10
covered check. White has no choice 0b7 + <2>a8 (10 .. .<&a6 11 Oa7
but to expose it to the bishop’s at¬ mate) 11 0a7 + &>b8 12 0a8
tack again by playing 1 ... &h3!! mate.
But White captures the queen by
And here is a similar mating attack,
the following manoeuvre: 2 0f5 +!
which occurred in a game played in
<£>b4 3 0f4 + , thereby reaping the
Paris in 1922.
fruits of the discovered check. A re¬
markable position!

The double check

Double check is a vigorous variant
of the two-fold attack. This method
is particularly effective, because the
king is attacked by two pieces si¬
multaneously. The following prob¬
lem lucidly illustrates the moment¬ White to play
ous strength of the double check.
1 a Xf6! A xdl 2 Sg6+ <&h7 3
A. White, 1919
0g7+ &h8 4 0h7+ &g8 5 0h8
mate.

37
Barcza—Bron stein Black’s position seems to be not
Moscow—Budapest 1949 bad. He is threatening with
one of the two possible moves:
1 ... £) Xg4 + and 1 ,.,&xe3.
But what happened was 1 Ah5 +!
The rook is unassailable because of
2 &g6 mate.

1 . ,. &h7 2 &g6 + &g8

In these circumstances the best de¬

fence, because if he had played
2 . . .&h8or2 .. .&g7, White
would have replied 3 Ad4. But
White manages to improve his of¬
fensive position still further by tak¬
Taking advantage of the strength of
ing advantage of the dangerous
the double check, Black achieved
confrontation between the king and
material superiority:
the rook.
1 . ..£] xd32&xf53£) xet!!
3 0 xf6!& xe34 Af7+!&f8
This is the crux of the matter. White
has no time to undertake anything, If he moves to h7, White wins by 5
because there is the threat of mate Agg 4- and 6 0 x h6 mate.
by double check on f3. 5 &e6 + &e7 6 0f7+ and mate in
3 &fl £)c2+ 4 Acl 0 xcl + 5 two.
d?e2 £)d4 + 6 <£>d2 £)b3 +. White
Here is another example showing
resigned.
how the attacker fails to convert a
An ingenious mating system is double check.
shown in the following example.
Koblenz—Ragozin
Friedstein—A ronin
Moscow 1945
Moscow 1949

38
By discovered check 1 . , . Q f3 + ? W. Nemtadt, 1929
2 & x e5 S X d3 Black captures the
queen, but after 3 & x h8 White
sees his chance and uses it- The cor¬
rect continuation would have been
1 . ,. tSif x e4!! The salient point is
that White may not take the queen
with his bishop because of 2 ...
Sf2+! (the deadly double check!)
3Ct>hl 0h2 mate. But if White
takes the queen at e4 with his
queen, Black replies with 2 ...
Sxe4+3&xe5Sx e5, after
White to play and win
which he is a pawn up and has good
winning prospects. By playing 1 (i?d I White forces
Black’s bishop to seek protection
from the king, because 1 ... &b2
leads to an immediate loss due to 2
The two-fold attack
£)c2+ (discovered check), whilst
on a defended piece 1 . .. &a3 would result in 2 £lc2 +
(fork). That is why Black replies
If the target of attack is covered,
1 . . . &d 2. White must now repeat
then the number of pieces attacking
his attack on the bishop. He does
it must outnumber the defending
this with a well-planned manoeuvre
pieces by one unit if the attack is to
by the knight: 2 £lc6! While getting
be successful. Thus if the target is
set to deliver the final blow with the
covered by a single piece then two
knight, White prevents the black
pieces are sufficient to attack it. It
bishop from leaving the endangered
goes without saying that the target
d2 square. Black has no choice but
must first be immobilized or the op¬
to play 2 ... (l?d3.This is followed
ponent must be forced into a situa¬
by 3 £)e5 +, and depending on
tion in which he has no time to find
which way the king flees—to e3 or
a safe refuge for the piece.
c3—White wins a piece by a fork on
The following two examples illus¬ square c4 or by a discovered check
trate the mechanics of an attack on on f3.
a defended piece.

39
T. Gorgiev, 1929 Madler— Ublmann
Conclusion of a study Bad Liebenstein 1963

Here we see the capture of a rook in White wanted to capture a pawn by

similar circumstances. After 1 <&d6, playing 1 3 c7, thereby threatening
Black is forced to play 1 ... 0 c5 to the bishop at b7. This enabled Black
give the rook protection from the to unleash a typical attack on
king, which has a limited operating square g2:l . . . 3el 4- 2 <&h2
radius. By playing 2 &d3 +, White 3 hi 4-! The rook has to be taken,
forces his opponent to answer 2 . . . but with what piece ? If White plays
<£>b6, after which the pinning with 3 3 X hi, he exposes square g2
&e3 clinched matters. and Black gives mate by 3 ...
The attack on the opponent’s castle na x g2.
by two pieces is dealt with in detail But if he takes the rook with his
in Part 2 in the section entitled “At¬ king, his pawn at g2 is pinned and
tack on the king”. At this point we Black again attacks square g2 by
shall examine only one case of such 3 .. . ^fh3 +! 4 ^gl ttl x g2 mate.
an attack. The attack on squares f2 and f7 in
the opening game warrants a special
discussion. The reader will recall
that these squares are the weakest
points of the two sides, because
they are defended only by the king.
Thus, to attack them successfully
one needs only two pieces, namely
knight and queen, bishop and
queen or bishop and knight. We
shall deal with these questions in
detail in the chapter entitled “The
double attack in the opening game”.

40
But here I should like to acquaint Only six moves have been played,
you with a not so familiar variation, but the attack on f7 by two pieces is
which convincingly demonstrates already irrefutable. After 6 ...
the strength of the two-fold attack. £)h6 7 & x h6, Black is a piece
It would be advisable to be familiar down. Obviously 5 .. . £) X e5 6
with this opening, because it occurs £) x e5 de would have been better,
to this day even in master-class but this would have been followed
games. by 7 ^fh5 and a double attack on
the pawns at f7 and e5. Black has to
1 e4 e5 2 S)f3 d6 3 d4 £)d7 4 &c4
reply with 7 ... g6 and accept the
&e7?
loss of a pawn.

An attack on a defended object can

also be a means of defence. An ex¬
ample is shown in the following dia¬
gram.

G. Kasparyan, 1949
Conchtsion of a study

The bishop's move looks natural.

Since Black is worried by the pos¬
sibility of the knight’s moving to g5,
he decides to post his bishop at e7.
But while covering square g5, Black
overlooks another point, which is
equally important. White immedi¬
ately takes advantage of this.

5 de! de?6 ^fd5!... Draw

This position deserves a diagram. White’s pieces are attacking the

knight, but unfortunately for
White, its capture would result in a
disadvantage for him. 1 & x a4
& x a4 2 X a4 d?e7 etc. That is
why White first plays 1 f6!, after
which he threatens to capture the
knight at a4. The knight seeks
safety in flight: 1 . .. £lb2. There is
no use trying to escape to the other
side, because after 1 ... £)b6 2

41
&c5 2)c8 3 &d7 £a7 4 &b6, the Lasker—Eawe
knight is trapped. Nottingham 1936
White’s king is hard on its heels: 2
C£>c3 &a4!In this way the bishop
vacates square d 1 for the knight.
White proves equal to the task by 3
&f3! He makes timely preparations
for a renewed two-fold attack. Af¬
ter 3 ... £) d 1+ 4 (£>d2 it becomes
clear that Black’s knight has to turn
back on account of 4 ... £)f2 5
&e3 £h3 6&g4£gl7<£>f2.
In this way White succeeds in bring¬
ing about a draw through repetition
Black to play
by alternately exposing Black’s
knight to a two-fold attack on This model case has long since
squares d 1 and a4. come to be regarded as classical.
Black has a somewhat better game,
but he can hardly win. Nevertheless
he apparently thought it was worth
The two-fold attack
a try, and instead of moving back
on two targets his knight he went! .. . &a5?,
thereby allowing himself to be
The discovered check, which we drawn into tactical complications.
have already discussed, is a good
Let’s see what happens then: 2 b4l
example of the two-fold attack on & x b4 3 £)c2! Now both Black’s
two targets. But this time we shall
pieces are under attack and one of
examine positions in which any two them is inevitably doomed.
pieces—with the exception of the
king—are subjected to two-fold at¬
L. Kaiyev
tack. The king can naturally also
take part in the attack.
It should be borne in mind that such
a two-fold attack can easily ensue in
defence through counterattack,
when the attacked piece leaves the
endangered zone and itself attacks
the hostile piece.

42
Black’s bishop is tied up covering Weak and uncovered pieces often
the knight at e8. Taking advantage pave the way for two-fold attacks.
of this White succeeds in pinning Take a look at what happens in the
and then capturing it by a two-fold position shown in the diagram, for
attack, instance. First of all, through a
series of exchanges, White elimi¬
1 &b4 Adi!
nated Black’s cover.
Black’s only chance of offering re¬
1 A x a6 G x a6 2 A x f6 A x f6
sistance is by counterattacking.
1 . , . A c6 would be very weak be¬ Having taken the knight at c7,
cause of 2 £3e5, after which he which had been covering the queen,
would immediately lose a piece. White mounted a two-fold attack:

2 £e3... 3&d5!...

Attacks the bishop and threatens to Black is forced to move his queen to
give check at f8. Black’s reply is d8 (or d6) and finds himself a piece
forced. down after 4 x f6 + ^fxf6 5
G xd7.
2 ... Ah5 3Gh2£f64£g4i...
And now let us examine some ex¬
Finishing up with a two-fold attack!
amples showing that a substantial
4 ... £) x g4 5 G x h5 + ^g7 6 material superiority can be equal¬
Gg5 + , and White wins. ized by two-fold attack.

Even if Black had chosen to defend

A. Kakovin, 1941
himself by 3 ... £)g7. White would
have replied with a two-fold attack
by 4 £}f5 and won the game after
4 . ,, x f5 5 G x h5 + .

Hobler— Tcbemiak
Heidenbeim 1959

Black is a rook up, but his knight is

hanging, although it cannot be
taken yet because of the fork 1 . ..
Gc3 + . By playing 1 &b4 White
launches a two-fold attack. There is

43
only one thing Black can do, d4, which it cannot do now due to
namely 1 . .. £)e4. White replies the pin 4 ^h2.
with another two-fold attack: 2
3 . .. Se4 +
£)g3! By playing 2 ...0xd5,
Black once again resorts to a “fork” (3 .. . 0e3+ is ineffective on ac¬
(3 ... 0d4 + ). But White makes count of 4 <&f5 0e5+ 5 <&f6 re¬
yet another two-fold attack: 3 <&c4 sulting in a draw).
£)f6 4 £)e4! thereby achieving a
4 <£>f5 0 h4 5 <&g5 and the whole
draw (4 ... 0f5 5 £)d6 + ).
thing can start all over again.

A. Gurvitch, 1931 The next study shows how one can

Conclusion of a study effectively extricate oneself from
such two-fold attacks.

T. Gorgiev, 1929

Draw

Here too, Black is a rook up, but by

playing 1 &e7 White attacks two White to play and win
pieces simultaneously. This results
in a strange chase in which the king At first everything looks quite
is pursued by the Black rook. straightforward:

1 .. . Sd5 2<£>e6 0e5 + 1 &f6+ <£>h7 2 0g7+ <£>h6 3

0f7<£g64 0f8 ...
The rook defends itself furiously.
The forced moves have led to a
3 &f6!. . .
two-fold attack, both of Black’s
The king fearlessly exposes itself to pieces being threatened. What now?
discovered check, White being Black unexpectedly replies with a
aware of the danger facing Black’s two-fold attack of his own.
bishop. 3 C&f6 is actually the only
4 ... £)c6!5 & xd8<£>g7 6 0e8
move to make, because 3 C£?d6 Sb2
<£>f7!
would put White at a disadvantage,
since this would give the bishop This creates a situation similar to
enough time to move from square

44
that discussed in the previous dia¬ direction and White sticking to his
gram. The king intends to keep pur¬ old method of attack:
suing the rook incessantly. But
4<&d2 £c3 5<£>d3! £b5
White finds the vulnerable spot in
his opponent’s defence system. Black is prepared to repeat the man¬
7 Oh8<&g7 8 &f6+!<£>xf6 9 oeuvre, but to 6 <5?c4 he replies not
0 h6 +, and White regains the in¬ with 6 . . . A a4, but with 6 ...
itiative, because this last two-fold &e2 + and wins. But White antic¬
attack tips the scale in his favour. ipates this and plays 6 ^c4!, which
is a two-fold attack on a piece
covering a pawn. He masters the
V. Korolkov, 1947
situation with this manoeuvre and a
Conclusion of a study
draw is not far off.

At the beginning of the chapter we

said that we would not be consider¬
ing any positions in which the at¬
tack is aimed at the king. I should
like to make just one exception.

Chekhover~Kan
Leningrad 1933

Despite the fact that Black is a piece

up, he can bury all his hopes of win¬
ning the game if he loses the pawn.
The line of play pursued by White,
who keeps attacking either the
pawn or a piece, is based on the fol¬
lowing idea:

1 <£>b4 £)c3 2 <£>c4! £)e2 3 <&d3

&dl
Here we see a typical case of a two¬
It would have been a weak move on fold attack. In parrying the threat to
the part of Black if he had played his queen by White’s rook move to
3 .. . &b5 +, because the.result al, Black attacks the white queen
would have been 4 &c4 & x c4 + 5 by playing to f6. How should White
<£> x c4 <2?f5 6 <2?d3 and an immedi¬ continue? Bearing in mind that the
ate draw. But here we see Black king must be protected when
shepherding his forces in the other checked, we easily discover the

45
right way to proceed: 1 i^fd5 4- ! Af¬ queen, which seemed so safe behind
ter 1 .. . S x d5 2 & X d5 + <2?h8 the rook.
3 S x a2 White is a rook up. Such a two-fold attack can also be
mounted in conjunction with a pin
on the diagonal.
The two-fold attack
in conjunction
with a pin

Situations in which a piece is sub¬

jected to a two-fold attack and in
which it is pinned into the bargain
are particularly dangerous for the
player who is on the defensive. This
is lucidly illustrated in the examples
below.
Black to play

Instead of moving his king to the

side after 1 ... &c6 + , White de¬
cided to play 2 Ji£e4 and after 2 ...
^ff5 was forced to resign. To his
misfortune he stands not only to
lose his bishop at e4 but also to be
checkmated at square f 1. If this had
not been the case, White could have
replied 2 x c6, which would have
broken the pin and Black’s plan
would have been frustrated.

Gendel—Sushkevitch
White cannot play his king to the
Moscow 1956
first rank in reply to 1 .. . 0 a2 +
on account of the threat of his
queen getting pinned. He has no
choice but to shield the king with
his rook by playing 2 0 e2 and al¬
lowing his rook to be pinned. Black
continues his attack with 2 ...
i^fe3! This creates a tragicomical
situation in which White being un¬
able to provide additional cover for
his rook, is forced to take Black’s
rook, thus inevitably losing his

46
 ...iiiiiiiiiiiiili!i!llillli!!!i!llll!i

Here we immediately see that the 1 f7&g72f8(&) + !...

tactical operations ought to be fo¬
White’s intentions are still unclear
cused on the pinned and tied bishop
at this point. Why does he sacrifice
at g3. And this is just what Black
the pawn?
does by playing 1 . . . Shg8. White
can only respond with 2 0 d3. How 2 . ..<&xf8 3 Ofl+ ...
can Black intensify his assault? A
Black’s king naturally seeks cover
sacrifice is out of the question, be¬
behind the rook:
cause if 2 ... 0 x g3 4- 3 0 x g3
S g8 then White takes the rook at 3 ...<&e7
g8 with impunity because his queen
What will White do now? Why not
is covered.
try 4 S fe 1!
You probably understand the un¬
derlying idea now. It is essential
that the queen should be supported
for this tactical operation to be
crowned with success. This means
that it has to be driven from square
b3 by 2 ... S ab8! 3 ^c3. And now
Black can strike at g3: 3 ...
S x g3 -I- 4 0 x g3 S g8 5 0 x g8
^ x c3, and Black wins.

A. Mandler and I. Konig, 1924

Again a situation similar to that

shown in example 73. Black can of
course keep checking the king with
his rook until the king moves to
square a4. But then he has to take at
e2, and loses his second rook after
White has recaptured his rook and
given check. Black can try to flee to
the other side by 3 ... d5g7. This is
followed by 4 S g2 + <&h6 5
Ohl-I- Oh3 6 Bgh2!, and White
again achieves his objective of win¬
The situation does not look very ning a rook.
tense. Although both rooks are un¬ The two-fold attack coupled with a
der fire, they cover each other and pin is not only a very effective of¬
at first glance Black seems to be in fensive but also a defensive method.
no immediate danger. But let us see
how things develop.

47
A. Gurvitch Alekhine—Capablanca
Conclusion of a study Competition held in 1927

White to play White to play

In this famous finale White attacks Black’s rook has strayed into the
Black’s rook at d4 by a second piece enemy camp, and White cuts off its
by 1 &c3. Black seems to have re¬ retreat by playing 1 £)c5. What fol¬
stored the balance by playing 1 . . . lowed was 1 , . . & x c5 2 dc (natu¬
^c5 to give his rook additional rally not 2 be because of 2 . . . \&a5,
cover. But after a waiting move with and thanks to the attack on the
the bishop (2 £&f2 or 2 i&gl) we pawn at a3 Black comes off the
realize that it is not only the rook at hook) 2 ... \^fe5. In an attempt to
d4 that is permanently tied. If the save his rook Black gets entangled
king makes a wrong move, Black in a dangerous pin. Black must not
loses material, and his other rook allow him to extricate himself: 3 f4!
can only shuttle back and forth use¬ ^fg7 4 & x e4 de, and instead of
lessly between d5 and d8. Despite the somewhat delaying move 5
his truly overwhelming superiority (£>f2, White could have immedi¬
in material (two rooks against a ately decided the game in his favour
bishop) Black cannot win. A unique by playing 5 S f2! with the unpre-
position! ventable threat of 6 S c2.
Sometimes a piece is already pinned
and all one has to do is organize a
two-fold attack on it.

48
 Mi.iiiHiiiiiiiiiijjiiiliiilHtlllljiiiiiliijjjiiiiliijjiiiiiii

Trifitnovic— Golombek Tsbigorin -Allies

Amsterdam 1934 Moscow 1901

By playing 1 g4. White immediately In reply to 1 hg + Black was forced

threatens to capture a piece. Black to play 1 . .. ^ x g6 (if Black had
replies with 1 ... g5, thereby played 1 ... <2?g8, White would
blocking the pawn’s further ad¬ have gained advantage by 2 0 f7
vance. But White retains the initia¬ and an irrefutable threat of playing
tive by 2 h4!, a strong move. If one the queen to the h-file). White has a
of White’s pawns is taken, White brilliant reply to this move: 2 0 f5!
can play 3 g5, whilst 2 ... <£>g6 is He takes advantage of the pin with
followed by 3 ^e4+, and White a view to giving Black the decisive
checkmates Black’s king in three check at h5. There is no satisfactory
moves after 3 ... £)‘ x e4 4 f5 + defence for Black, 2 ... <t?g8 being
£&h7 5 S xf7 + and 6 t£lg7 mate. refuted by 3 Sf8 +.

The pin is used skilfully in the fol¬

lowing examples for mounting two¬ W. Bron, 1963
fold attacks.

49
White’s pieces gang up on the king Sim agin—Zago ria nsk i
forcing it to seek protection behind Ivanovo 1944
the queen.

I £kc3 + &e7 2&e5 + &d8 3

^a5+ b6

At last the queen manages to afford

protection to the king. But the lat¬
ter’s hapless placing behind the
pawn at b6 (again that calamitous
pin) enables White for the first time
to unleash a two-fold attack.

4 &c5!i&b8
Black to play
The best possible reply. If Black had
played 4 ... t£?e8 instead, he would Black's position is rather difficult.
soon have found himself check¬ White’s second rook threatens to
mated : 5 l£^e3 4- C£?f8 6 &b4 4- join his first one on the 7th rank.
&g7 7 %5 -1-. But Black finds an interesting de¬
The game then took the following fence:
course:
1 ... Sf7 2 Oh8-f &d7!
5 ^ xb6 + &e8 6&e3+ &f8 7
&c5+ d6

Black tries to put another obstacle

in the bishop’s way, but a second at¬
tack sweeps it aside.

8 i^e3l &d8 9 & x d6 + &g8 10

^g3 + &h8 11 &e5 + f6 12 &g5!

Black has no defence against this

third blow.

This has brought about a mutual

The mutual two-fold attack. All four rooks are
two-fold attack confronting each other, but their
exchange would not bring about
any particularly interesting devel¬
This extremely tense situation in
opments, e. g. 3 Et x c8 S x g7 or 3
which two pieces on each side at¬
S x f7 B x h8. But White finds a
tack two hostile pieces deserves
way of turning the advantages of his
special consideration.
position to account.

50
3&c6+!!... White is a pawn up, but his king’s
side has been weakened and there is
A move fraught with possibilities. If
the annoying threat of Black’s play¬
the rook takes the bishop on c6,
ing 1 . . . i&f3. The correct move
then White can take the rook on f7.
would have been 1 0c2, which
If Black takes the bishop with his
would have enabled White to play
king, White immediately replies 4
his bishop to g2 in response to the
S xc8+ and then captures the
queen being played to f3. But White
Black rook on f7. If Black takes the
wanted to solve the defence prob¬
bishop with his knight, then White
lem once and for all and played 1
plays 4 S x f7 +. Which means that
£lc4? in order to exchange the
the bishop may not be taken by any
bothersome bishop. What followed
piece and the king is forced to move
was
away.
1 .. . A xc4 2 &xc4 Bdl + !
3 . ,.<&e6

The second assault wave is ap¬

proaching.

4 Sh6+ Bf6 5 &d7+!

The final phase is also based on the

two-fold attack. White achieved a
qualitative superiority and easily
converted his advantage. Mutual
two-fold attacks require precise cal¬
culation and circumspection, for
they can easily boomerang if not
handled with due care.
Taking advantage of the rook’s
contact to the queen, he thickens
Alato rtsev—Konsta nfinopolski
the plot by mounting a mutual two¬
Tbilisi 19J 7
fold attack in order to derive an ad¬
vantage.

3 <&g2 & x c4 4 0 x c4 0 x al,

and Black is a rook up.

You will recall that a similar situa¬

tion occurred in the position shown
in diagram 77, in which pinning was
involved. In both situations a rook,
an entirely innocent bystander in no
way involved in the events taking
place, became the victim of an in¬
exorable fate.

51
Mutual two-fold attacks can occur In view of his threat to capture the
in a variety of circumstances both in pawn at c2, Black thought his pawn
offensive and defensive operations. at c6 was unassailable. Despite this,
Special attention should be paid to White continued with 1 dc! disre¬
them in situations involving recipro¬ garding the threat. White’s defence
cal attacks and pinning. is based on a mutual two-fold attack,
which occurred after 1 .. . ^ x c2
Burn-Marshall 2 n xd8+ 2 xd83 * xf7 + !
Telegraphic match
USA—England, 1911

Black must reply with 3 . . . x f7

White to play after which White takes the bishop
at c2. The operation initiated by
By playing 1 £l x d5! White used
White had to be calculated with
the two-fold attack not only to free great precision.
himself from a pin but also to gain a The check with the bishop on f7 af¬
pawn, e. g. 1 . . . x d2 2
ter 1 ... B x dl + 2 0 x dl
£ xf6+ gf 3 0 xd2.
& x c2 was a mistake, because
White would have himself become
Ma roczy—Bog olyubov
the victim of a two-fold attack by
Dresden 1936
3 .. ,&f8! 4 A xg6 A xb3.0nly
3 t£(a2!! was correct. This ingenious
solution enables White to remove
his queen from the line of fire. His
reply to 3 .. . Bf8 is 4 Sd7 and
square f7 can no longer be covered.

You will surely have recognized

how the player responsible for the
mutual two-fold attack extricated
himself from it. He usually resorted
to a check to give one of his pieces
just enough time to leave the danger

52
 . .. ...i^iJiiiiitMjiiiiitijiiiijiiiiiiitilliiiiiilKiiiijjjiiiliiiijilli

zone. Here are a few more exam¬ Here White executes the mutual
ples. two-fold attack by playing 1
Clxg6! After 1 . ..&xg3 White
K. Richter—Winz first plays 2 Cl x e7 + and then 3
Berlin 1957 S xg3, capturing a piece. Even if
Black had chosen the best possible
reply under the circumstances, i. e.
1 ... Cld5, White still wins by 2
Cl x f 8 +.

Thomas—Euwe
Nottingham 1936

By playing 1 0 x e6, White re¬

gained a piece with the aid of a mu¬
tual two-fold attack. His operation
is based on the fact that in reply to
1 . . . x f6 he is able to give check
by 2 Ocl + thereby saving his
rook.
Black played 1 ... Cle6, apparently
A la to rtsev—Zam ikbovsk i assuming that after 2 S x d6
Moscow 1931 0 xd63 ^ xd6 Sd8amutual
two-fold attack is created from
which he extricates himself by 4
l^ x c7 S x d 1 + with advantage in
material. But White found a differ¬
ent way of defending himself and of
protecting his position against ha¬
rassment by the rook. The attempt
to recover the oiece by means of a
pin after 4 Nd7t*3f x d6 5 S x d6
Clf8 was frustrated by the dis¬
covered check 6 Clf6 +.
White to play

53
The double attack

Up to now we have examined a

wide variety of cases of two-fold at¬
tack, and you might have noticed
that we never used the term double
attack. We believe that the two-fold
attack is only a special case of the
double attack. We want to broaden
the concept “double attack” to
cover both attacks and threats of
the first and second order. Let us
consider a few examples. White to play

F. Saavedra, 1895 This is the finale of an equally well-

known study. First of all White
plays 1 e7 forcing Black’s bishop to
move to the square b5. Then he at¬
tacks the piece by 2 dbc5.
This move constitutes an attack on
the bishop b5 and in addition it
poses the threat of the king entering
the quadrangle of the pawn on g4.
Black is unable to refute his oppo¬
nent’s two-pronged plan with a
single move and the game ends in a
White to play draw. We can justifiably regard the
move 2 <3?c5, which consists of an
In front of us we have the finale of a attack on the bishop and a threat to
well-known study. By playing 1 stop the pawn as a double attack.
<&b3. White attacks the rook and The finale of the following study
threatens checkmate on cl. It is not demonstrates another variant of the
difficult to see that we have the double attack.
same situation here as in the two¬
fold attack: It is not possible to
parry the threatened checkmate and
to save the rook in one move. This
particular double attack consists of
an attack and a mating threat.

54
 ..iiiii)iiiiiiiiiiiiitiiHtliiitiiiiililtiiii(iittii!iiilfllili!!i

L. Kubbel, 1937 White plays 1 i^fb3 thereby attack¬

ing square d5, which is covered
only once, with two pieces. At the
same time he threatens to capture a
pawn after 2 £5 x f5 2 X f5 by 3
2 X e4. One can easily see that the
double attack in this case consists of
a two-fold attack and a threat of the
second order.

T. Lawson, 1925

White to play and win

In this position White first plays 1

c7, thereby forcing the bishop to
take the pawn (1 . . . & x c7) and
then he attacks it by 2 d?c6. The
bishop may not leave the diagonal
a5—d8 because of the threat of
checkmate 3 d?b6. That is why
Black has to play either 2 ... J&a5
or 2 .., J&d8. But then White has
another threat in store: a two-fold
attack by discovered check by Lawson’s study shows a double at¬
means of 3 d?b5 + or 3 d?d7 4-. tack consisting of a combination of
You will notice that this double at¬ two threats. White begins with 1 f7
tack consists of an attack coupled d?g7 2 &e7! Since the pawn threat¬
with the threat of a two-fold attack. ens to queen, the reply 2 .. . d? x f7
is forced, after which the second
Keres—Sliva threat of the capture of the knight
Goteborg 1935 by 3 feb4 is realized.

55
We have examined situations simi¬ A. andK. Zarytsbev, 1928
lar to the one shown here before. Conclusion of a study
Whited move 1 Sh8 is a double at¬
tack consisting of two collateral
threats, i. e. queening and—if Black
should choose to defend himself by
taking the pawn with his rook-
mounting a double attack on the
king and rook.

Balashov—Biyiasas
Manila t976

White to play

White plays 1 (£>d7. He doesn’t

seem to threaten anything. Black’s
pawn has moved far ahead, and
White’s pawn may not queen be¬
cause of the threatened check at f5
by the bishop. But if we take a
closer look things are quite differ¬
ent. In reality 1 £bd7 is a double at¬
White to play tack consisting of two threats of the
second order. White is about to
"White sacrifices his rook for a
threaten the pawn at b5 and at the
bishop by playing 1 0 x d7 in order
same time to queen his own pawn.
to reply to 1 ...l^xd 7 with 2
If Black hesitates to advance the
^g4, threatening mate on g7 and
pawn, it will be checked after 2
the capture of Black’s quee n by 3
££>d6 £lf5 3 C$?e5. Black must antic¬
£l h6 +. White’s move 2 ^ g4 con¬
ipate these threats before it is too
sisting of two threats—a mate and a
late.
two-fold attack—is also a typical
Let us assume he plays 1 ...
case of a double attack.
£kf5 +. This is followed by 2 t£>d6
b4. There is no other defence
against 3 Cl)e5, This is the double at¬
tack, which—analogously to exam¬
ple 94—consists of an attack and the
threat to catch up with the pawn.
Consequently Black was virtually
powerless against the double attack,
which started with the first move

56
consisting of two threats of the sec¬ the range of appropriate defensive
ond order, although this was not so techniques is equally extensive. If,
apparent at first glance. for instance, a chessman covered
I hope you will agree with me that only by one piece is attacked by two
both two-fold attacks and double pieces, one can use an elementary
threats, namely those of the first defensive technique, which is to dis¬
and second order, as well as combi¬ patch another piece to its defence
nations of attacks and threats can by restoring the balance between
be regarded as double attacks, al¬ offence and defence. This can be
though the methods of defence done to give support or to unite
against them may vary. Such an ex¬ pieces and/or pawns designed to
pansion of the term double attack frustrate the effect of one or both of
enables us to make the following the attacking pieces by interposition
extremely broad classification. A or shielding.
double attack can be We have already discussed such
1. a pure two-fold attack; methods as support and interposi¬
2. a combination of an attack and a tion in the case of the single attack.
two-fold attack; In principle these defence variants
3. a combination of an attack and a in more complex situations differ in
threat; no way from the simple case. In
4. a combination of a two-fold at¬ both cases, the mobility and activity
tack and a threat; of the supporting or interposed
5. a combination of two threats of pieces suffer because they are tied
the first order; and pinned. Double attacks di¬
6. a combination of two threats of rected at two pieces give rise to typi¬
the first and second order; cal defence systems. Let us examine
7. a combination of two threats of them more closely.
the second order.
The threats, too, can vary consider¬ /. Kling, 1849
ably. They can be threats of a
checkmate, threatened attack,
threats of a two-fold attack, threats
of queening or of stopping a queen¬
ing pawn, etc. In addition, as you
know, these threats can be of differ¬
ent orders.

Defence against
the double attack
We have seen that there can be a
wide variety of double attacks, and
As the diagram clearly shows, Black that the best way to defend yourself
has set the stage for a double attack: against a double attack is by coun¬
he is attacking the rook and his tering it with a double attack of
queen is poised to checkmate the your own.
king on square a 1. White’s situation
seems to be critical. But there is a
A. Kakovin, 1961
way out: 1 Sa4! This is an effective
Conclusion of a study
way of protecting the rook, because
it not only enables it to leave the
danger zone but also to pose the
threat of a checkmate on square h3.
White takes advantage of the fact
that the rook is unassailable after
1 . . . &xa42 Sh3+ <£>e4 3
S h4 + thanks to the two-fold at¬
tack. Black can parry the checkmate
by 1 ... &c8, but after 2 0h3 +
X h3 3 S a3 + his queen never¬
theless succumbs to a two-fold at¬
tack. White to play and win
We can derive the following rule
from the above: The two-fold at¬ In this position White must protect
tack remains ineffective if one of himself against the threatened
the pieces under attack can dodge double attack 1 . . . Ct>g3. He solves
the attack and in its turn pose some this problem by playing 1 Ac7!
dangerous threat. As illustrated This move is in preparation for a
above, this can either be the threat two-fold attack: 1 . . . <£>g3 2 £)g6!
of a checkmate, of capturing a hos¬ This is the whole point of the exer¬
tile piece, of queening, etc. The as¬ cise! White surrenders a piece tem¬
sailed piece can also extricate itself porarily only to regain it without
by giving check to the opponent’s delay after 2 .. . A x g6 by dis¬
king. Let us return to Kling's study. covery check 3 f5 +.
I am sure you will have noticed that
White’s move 1 0 a4! was actually a Although peculiar, the method of
double attack, because in addition defence shown in the next magnifi¬
to threatening the queen White has cent study, in which a double attack
also set up the threat of a check¬ is used to refute a double attack, is
mate. Try to fix firmly in your mind characteristic of such positions.

58
 ■ ....

S. Kaminer, 1935 double attack remains. Let us see

what happens then:
103
2 . ..gf3h8(&) &g6+ 4&al
&e7 5 £f3 &f6+ 6£e5+ &e7

White to play and win

After 1 h7 &h5! White unexpec¬

tedly found himself in a precarious
situation. If he decides to queen 2
h8(^f), Black plays 2 ...&Xg6 + Now we realize that the knight was
3 d?al &e7!, after which the not sacrificed in vain, because in
deadly threat of a double attack taking the knight, the pawn at g5
crops up through 4 .. . &f6 +. had to vacate the diagonal h4—d8.
White is unable to block the dia¬ White elegantly makes use of this
gonal, because 4 £)f3 &f6+ 5 circumstance by playing 7 ^fh4!!
£)e5 + is followed by 5 . ..(t?e7! By pinning the bishop he eliminates
with a bad position. How can White the possibility of a strike on e5 and
parry this threat? We know that the threatens to capture the pawn atf4.
best method of defending oneself 7 ... A x h4 is followed by a deci¬
against the double attack is by sive double attack 8 X g6 + and

mounting a double attack of one’s 9 X h4, which gives White the

own. But how can this be done? victory.

Finding a solution is anything but In this case. White used a pin to
easy. repel a double attack, but it was a
well-planned double attack that
2^f4!!... brought him victory.
White forces Black to remove his Please bear in mind that the most
knight by attacking his bishop. For surprising moves—moves that seem
the time being it is unclear what this entirely out of the question at first
changes, because the threat of a sight—can occur in such tactically
critical situations.

59
Alekhine— Verlinski Ed. Lasker—Marshall
Odessa 1918 New York 1924

Black Intends to mount the double

Black had just assaulted both of
attack 1 . . . l&e5 attacking the
White’s rooks by an effective ma¬
rook and threatening checkmate on
noeuvre with his queen White cannot
h2. If, for instance, White plays 1
take the queen because of the
5 el, Black’s attack after 1 . . .
threatened checkmate on fl. And
^Sfe5 2 <3?gl Sb2 decides the issue.
White cannot extricate himself
White found the only defence possi¬
whatever he does: He can play
ble in this predicament: He covers
neither 1 Scdl because of 1 ...
both targets with his queen: 1 l^fe3!
X d6, nor I £lc4 because of
^e5 2 l&gL
1 ... & x c4, nor 1 S ddl because
If Black plays 2 . .. tSjf x f5 then 3
of 1 . . . & xe5. But he found a
Sfl l&g6 4 Sel Se8 5 l&e3, with
brilliant move which solved all his
good prospects of a draw. After
problems: 1 t&dl!! thanks to which
2 ...e3 3 Sel e2 4 &f3 sS» xf5 5
he can assert his superiority in mate¬
£g4 &d5 4- 6 &g2 S&f x c5 7
rial. If Black takes the queen on dl,
6 x e2 White would also have had
White can take his queen on c7. But
good chances of defending himself
if he replies with 1 ... ^fa5, then 2
successfully.
l^fdS is the most expedient move. In
this case White was able to use the In some situations it is also possible
simplest method of defence against to refute a double attack by moving
the double attack on two pieces, one of the pieces attacked out of
viz. by covering both of them in a danger and posting it to cover the
single move. But this move was not other piece or some other endang¬
easy to find. ered target.

60
R esbevski—Euwe Smyslov—Zita
The Hague 1948 Prague 1946
Game variant

Black, who had just played H e7,

A double attack has been launched. pins all his hopes on threatening
White is attacking the knight on d7 square f2. But White was able to
and threatening checkmate on h7. prove that the resulting double at¬
Despite the acute danger, Black has tack held no dangers for him. This
an adequate defence: 1 ... Ae4! In is how the game continued:
this manner White’s queen is di¬
1 an Xe7! On xd4 2 ^d8 + &h7 3
verted to square e4. If the knight
an x c8...
takes on the square e4, the threat is
suspended for a moment and Black White has calculated every move
has time to reply 2 ... 12 fc8. But to and is confident of success.
2 its x e4 Black answers 2 ... f6!
3 ... Q X f2
attacking the queen and covering
square h7 at the same time. The stage is set for a discovered
In view of a further double attack check, but Black cannot avail him¬
by2£ld7!!, 1 ... £lf6? instead of self of it.
1 .. . Ae4! would have been a mis¬
4 x c4 ...
take. Now 2 ... iSe4 is useless be¬
cause of 3 £l x f6 4- gf 4 ^ x e4, By taking the pawn, White at the
and White wins. same time covers the rook. 4 ^c5
would have been a much weaker
move because of 4 . .. H x g2 + ! 5
& X g2 )&d2 4- and 6 ... X cl.
4 ...I^d2 5^c2+!

Destroys all illusions the opponent

may have had. Through this ex-

61
change, which is also based on a After 7 S x d 1 c2! the pawns queen
double attack, White simplifies the in short order. You will note that
position and asserts his superiority 7 ... c2 is also a double attack by
in material. which Black attacks the rook and
threatens to queen at cl.
5 ... ^ x c2 6 0 x c2 0 x c2 7
S&e4+ and White wins. The dangerous passed pawns gave
Black a decisive advantage after al¬
The possibility that the attacker’s
lowing White to make the double
situation might, for some unforeseen
attack. Other factors can also be of
reason, deteriorate after a double
considerable importance.
attack is also conceivable.

Geller—Averbakh S. heneggery 1959

Kiev 1954

White to play and win

Black threatens to eliminate White’s

In this position we see White’s
last pawn by 1 ... e5. White’s at¬
threat to mount a double attack, but
tempt to prevent this by 1 £)d7 is
Black decides to let him try it. The
countered by Black with 1 ... £&b5
game then took the following
and his double attack enables him
course:
to capture a knight.
1 . . . 0 x e5! 2 de & x e5 3 & x e5 White is not deterred by this and
£& x e5 4 0 x g5 + (£>h7 5 0 g x e5 continues with 1 £)d7! It becomes
apparent after 1 . . . £&b5 2 {£?d8
White has captured a rook through
U x d7 3 &c7 + &c6 4 &e5 that
the double attack, but Black’s
Black is in Zugzwang and is forced
pawns on the queen’s wing are
to surrender his bishop.
worth much more.
A similar, although somewhat more
5 .. .be 6 Sb5 Sdl!, and White complex situation is shown in the
resigned. next diagram.
 ..#^ji>iiiijiiiitiHNjitiiirHiiiuiiiitiiHliiiiilltli!jiii

]. Fritz, 1951 The bishop suddenly finds itself in a

hopeless situation. After 6 ..
^g3 + 7 &g2 Black has no satis¬
factory way of continuing the
game.
Black could also have taken a dif¬
ferent line and played 4 . . . d^h4
before taking on h2. In this case 5
Afl! Axh2 6£f3+ &g3 7&e3
would have followed, and Black
would again have lost the bishop as
a result of Zugzwang.

To conclude this chapter, let us

consider an example in which the
White’s chances of winning do not course of events is understandable
seem very good in this situation: without much comment.
The knight at b7 hangs and Black
threatens to play 1 ... A X h3 2 Bernstein—Smyslov
A X h3 &f4 and to capture White’s Groningen 1946
last pawn (this is a threat of the sec¬
ond order). The game takes the fol¬
lowing course:

1 £)d6 A xh32 £f5+ ...

The check must be given precisely

at this point because the king can¬
not move toh5.

2 .. .&g5 3 A xh3 &f4 4 £d4!

White tries to save his pawn by

threatening a double attack.

4 .. . A x h2 5 £f3+ &f4! Black has a winning position. But in

attempting to speed up the course
Black, too, pins all his hopes on the
of events he decided to play 1 ...
double attack6 ... Cbg3, which
b2?2 U xb2! Sh2+ relying on a
can be mounted as soon as Black’s
double attack. Only after White’s
bishop is taken by the knight. But
surprise move 3 &f3 did he con¬
White has thought further ahead.
cede a draw as a result of stalemate.
6&f2!!...

63
Forcing 1 £g6+ &e4
the double attack Black has no other option, because
1 . .. <2?f5 loses immediately be¬
We have already noted that the cause of 2 £l e7 + , and after 1 ...
double attack is one of the most Ct>e6 2 &f6 + White gives check
dangerous methods of attack. But with the knight on e7 or e5, de¬
we also know that one can antic¬ pending on whether the king moves
ipate it if one recognizes the threat tod5 or d7.
early enough. The double attack is 2&h4+ &e3
particularly dangerous if it occurs
suddenly and is forced, leaving no Again the only possible reply, be¬
time for counter-measures. In the cause any other move would result
present chapter we shall find out in a fork either by the knight or by
how and why such a situation oc¬ the queen.
curs. 3 e 1 + C£>d4 4 gl +, and wher¬
ever the king turns he cannot escape
a double attack.
1. The attack
In the position shown in the next
One can easily imagine a situation diagram the king covers a long dis¬
in which the king is attacked and tance before it succumbs to a
forced to submit to a double attack. double attack.
The situation shown in the next dia¬
gram is typical of such cases.
2. Vecsey, 1935
Conclusion of a study
K. Getter, 1873

1 £e7+ <£>g 7
A series of skilfully executed ma¬
noeuvres enables White to force the 1. Otherwise the king is check¬
king into a fork: mated in two moves.

64
 iiiiiHtfiiiiniiifiiiuiiiiMitwiiinmiiiiKmijiMimijiiii

2 &g8 + C£>f6 3 £)d5+ &e5 4 Bal +, then 7 <£>b2 and there is no

tSar g7+!... escape from 8 Bd8 + . But now we
have arrived at a position which we
Only the last move shows that even
are familiar with (cf. diag. 43) in
in the centre of the board the king
which White wins by a discovered
has only a narrow path to move on
check.
if a double attack is to be avoided.
But even this path leads to a preci¬ 5 Bc8! B xa76&b6 +
pice.
The king can be driven on to a
4 . . ,<£>d6 5 &e7+&c6 6 &c7 + dangerous square not only by
C£?b5 7 £lc3 + threatening to attack it. This can
also be achieved with various other
The king can be driven off not only
kinds of threat. In the study shown
by direct attack but also by a threat¬
in the next diagram, for instance,
ened attack.
the king runs into a fork only in the
course of a conflict with a hostile
A. Troitzkyi 1896
pawn.

A. Troitzky, 1924

If "White wants to win he must free

the rook covering the pawn on a7.
1 f6&d6 2 & xd4 £d2 +
But how can this be done if Black’s
king keeps hiding behind his rival’s If Black plays 2 ... (S?d7 in order to
back? And yet White retains the up¬ move up closer to the dangerous
per hand by driving Black’s king pawn, then White cuts off the
towards a disastrous double attack knight by 3 &c5! dDe8 4 &b4 and
by threatening check. captures it then.
I d&f4 &f2 2 C$?e4 &e2 3 &d4 3 <&e2 &e4 4 &e5 -I- &d7 5 f7
<&d2 4 &c5 &c3 t»e7 6&e3...
There is nothing better. If 4 ... We now realize that the knight has
Bel-I- 5&b4 Bbl+ 6&a3 no suitable escape route, White’s

65
decisive reply to 6 ... £lc5 being 7 W, Bron> 1927
&d6 + and to 6 ... £lg5 7 &f6 + .

Pressure on the king is often cou¬

pled with an attack on other men,
for instance as shown in the next
two diagrams.

A, Troitzky, 1914

White to play and win

1 Sc8! &a3 2 £d4+ <±>b6 3

Sb8+ <&c5 4 Sb5+ <&d6 5
5 d5 + <±>e7

It looks like Black’s king has ma¬

naged to escape from the danger
White to play and win zone, but...

6 Oa5'&xa57 £c6+ or6 ...

In this position White must try to
t^fd6 7 £lf5 +, in both cases White
fork the king and the queen. The
captures the queen.
first move is not hard to find.
S. Kaminer, 1925
1 Sb7!&g8!

The strongest possible response.

The queen tries to put as much dis¬
tance as possible between itself and
the king.

2 £le5+ <±>c5 3 Db81. -.

If Black’s queen had been on a8,

this move would have settled mat¬
ters on the spot.

3 .. ,afh7 4b4+ <±>d6 5 Qh8!

White to play and win
^ x h8 6 £lf7 + , and White wins.

A similar combined attack on the A combined attack by the king and

king and queen also leads up to a the bishop results in a double attack
double attack in the following on Black’s knight. This is how the
study. situation develops:

66
 s.iiimtmimmmmimMiiimiuiiiiiiumiiimnm

1 &c4 £lc5 + 2. Zugzwang

If the knight had moved to b8,
2ugzwang—i. e. the obligation to
White would have captured it after
make a move—plays an important
2 &xe7+ &g7 3&d6.
role in the end-game. Zugzwang
2 <&d5 £) a4 3 &b3 £lc3 + 4 &c4 can also be used for bringing about
£bl 5 &a2 £) xa3+ 6&b3 £lb5 the double attack.

Up till now the knight has been

H. Rinck, 1916
moving along a precisely prede¬
fined path thereby avoiding the
double attack. But at last Black has
run out of defensive resources and
White wins by 7 {i?a4 + .

The next diagram illustrates a

double attack that materializes as a
result of a counter-attack.

Podgayets— Vladimirov
Chelyabinsk 1975

White’s objective is to force, by

Zugzwang, the hostile queen to
move away from its king on the 8th
rank. White manages to do this by
skilful rook manoeuvres.

1 2 h7 + !.. .

1 2 f7 would be a mistake because

of 1 ... ^fd6!, as a result of which
Black’s queen would be out of
danger.
Black thought there was still time to 1 . ..&g8 2 2he7&h8 3 2bc7
defend himself against the threat d6
&g8
by playing 1 .. . h6. But White
nevertheless played 2 d6!, and after This is the toughest defence.
2 .. . hg 3 de & x e7, the pawn on Weaker would be 3 ... ^fg8 4
g6 was without cover, so that the <t?fl!«&f8 + 5 2f7&g8 6 2a7,
double attack 4 £) x g6 gave White because after 6 .. . ^fe8 White
a qualitative advantage. would bring his threat to bear: 7
0h7+ &g8 8 2ag7 + &f8 9
2h8 + .

67
 mm

4 Sca7&h8 5 Bf7^e8 + By 1 &a5, White deprives the op¬

ponent’s king of its freedom of
If 5 ... ^g8, then 6 {£>fl, and
movement, for any move it makes is
Black is in Zugzwang.
immediately punished by a double
6&f2&g8 7 Sg7+ &f8 8 Sh7 attack. Thus, only the bishop re¬
<&g8 9 Sag7+ <&f8 10 Bh8 + , mains free to move: 1 ... & h4 2
and White wins. (£>g4 &el 3 {£?h3! and after that
Black is in Zugzwang. Now every
A classic example of a double attack
move made by the king or the
is shown in the following well-
bishop results in a double attack.
known study.

L. Kubbel; 1909
R. Reti, 1922

After 1 £ld4 + t£)c5 2 t£>hll! Black

Here, White manages to capture
is in Zugzwang, because any move
the rook by a double attack thanks
by the bishop results in its loss as a
to Zugzwang.
result of the fork.
1 &c5 Sc8
L. Kubbel, 1928
If Black plays 1 ...Sb8,then2
Oh8+ {£>c7 3 ^d6 +. Neither can
the course of events be changed by
1 .. ,<&c8 2&a7!a5 3&dl a4 4
<£cl a3 5 <&bl a2 + 6 & x a2, be¬
cause after this Black is in Zug¬
zwang.

2 &b6+ <&e8 3 &c7! a5 4 <&dl a4

5 &cl a3 6 &bl a2+ 7 &al! &f8
8 Bh8 + , and White wins the
game.

68
X The exchange in converting Black’s insecure posi¬
tion to his advantage through a
One can easily imagine chat the series of exchanges and then in
double attack can also be forced by launching a double attack.
an exchange. Here is a very simple 1 g4!&g6 2gf &xf53 &xe4
example. ^xe44Clc3^xf3 5Clxd5
Axdl6£)xc7+ ...
The upshot of the game, which has
been forced by an exchange, is that
White achieves material superiority.

6 ... <£f 7 7 £) X a8 &f3 8 de and

White wins.

Kan—Lowenfisch
Tbilisi 1937

By a series of exchanges White

clears the way forks rook to the
eighth rank: 1 B X e8 + x e8
(1 . . . &xe8 2&h7!)2 J&xb5
A x b5 3 B d8 +, and the double
attack has become reality.

Berger—Schmid

The uncovered Black bishops

prompted White to work up a
double attack on them by means of
an exchange.

l£)xd4lBxd4 2&e2!Bxdl3
t*3fxdl...
These forced exchanges enabled
White’s queen to move to line d,
from where it can penetrate to d7
and attack the two bishops.
This example is taken from Lasker’s
“Manual of Chess”. White succeeds 3 ...«Sfg5

69
Black wants to protect one of the vary considerably depending on the
bishops with the queen. Bad was position, but this Is often neglected
3 ... & x e4 because of the "fork” in practice.
4 Af3. Particularly in tactically critical po¬
sitions involving attacks and threats
4h4!&f6 5e5!...
these relative values are only of lim¬
Forces the queen to abandon the ited validity. Very often the
bishop. strength of a particular man is meas¬
ured by the role it plays in a planned
5 . ,.&g6 6 &d7 Axg27<&xg2
tactical operation. If in order to
A x h4 8 #d3! & X d3 9 A x d3,
checkmate your opponent’s king it
and White wins.
proves necessary to demolish its de¬
We have seen how the double at¬ fensive system, then the material
tack was forced through sacrifices. sacrificed for this purpose is well
The next chapter is devoted to the spent, because one is repaid a hun¬
sacrifice as a means of forcing the dredfold. The same applies to the
double attack. double attack. If a double attack
promises to bring a material advan¬
tage then it is worth sacrificing
something in order to ensure suc¬
The sacrifice cess. The whole trick consists in
first sacrificing something and then
Sacrifices are, of course, an effec¬ getting something in return. Such
tive means of forcing the double at¬ sacrifices always involve a certain
tack. If for no other reason, they are amount of risk, because if the oppo¬
effective because as a rule they nent thinks of a way to frustrate the
come as a surprise to the opponent. plan, the sacrifice is made for no¬
Their unexpectedness and sudden¬ thing. This means that such sacrifi¬
ness is due to the fact that we tend cial ploys should be considered
to be too conscious of the relative thoroughly and often in breadth
values of the pieces in normal situa¬ and depth before it is decided to re¬
tions. sort to them.
At a very early stage of learning the A sacrifice that forces or helps bring
fundamentals of the chess game we about a double attack can bring
learn that the queen is much more about widely different results. It can
valuable than the rook, that the steer an opponent’s piece to a cer¬
rook is stronger than the knight or tain square on which it can be sub¬
bishop, which in turn are consider¬ jected to a double attack immedi¬
ably superior to pawns in value. ately or later on.
These truths have become second The following examples from
nature to us. And yet we know that games played in top-level competi¬
they are not immutable, that they tion are characteristic.

70
A ve rbakh—Horberg In this situation, too, the deploy¬
Stockholm 1954 ment of White’s pieces prompts
Black to sacrifice the exchange in
order to mount a double attack.

1 ... £lf5 + 2&d3 Sxc3+!3

&xc3 £le3 4 S xf2 £ldl+ 5
&d4 £l xf2

The difficulty of this tactical opera¬

tion consisted in making a correct
assessment of the end-game. After
that Black had no difficulty in win¬
ning the game. Such a combination
of sacrifices and double attacks is a
standard procedure which one
should be thoroughly familiar with.
The awkward position of Whited
queen, rook and bishop prompts Here is a classic example of a sacri¬
Black to sacrifice a rook in order to fice by means of which pieces are
launch a double attack: 1 . . . Hcl! mobilized in a double attack.
Black lures the queen to square cl
in order to capture it immediately Em. Lasker
after 2 ^ x cl by 2 ... £) x e2 + 3
S xe2 & xcl-K
The rest is easy: 4 Ct?f2 &a6 5 &d3
x al 6 A x a6 l^fdl. White gave
up.

Pirc—R, Byrne
Helsinki 1952

To lure Black’s rook to c8. White

first sacrifices his rook by 1 Sc8 + l
S x c8, after which he also gives
away his queen to recover all the
lost material and more in a single
move through a double attack: 3
bc(£) + !!

71
A series of sacrifices designed to Black rejects the first sacrifice of the
draw the queen into a fork is de¬ queen because this would have been
monstrated in the following old po¬ followed by 3 Cl x c6 + and 4
sition. C) xd8 with victory.
3 &c4+! 0 xc4 4 &a5 + !!
<£>xa5
For all that White still managed to
force Black to accept the sacrifice.
This time he is defeated as a result
of a slaughter brought about by a
double attack.
5 Cl xc4+ <£>b46 Clxd6+ and 7
C xf5.

Kikovic—Forititos
Budapest 1957

White to play and win

1 ab(&) + &xb82 &d6 +

& xd6 3 3 xd2+ ^ xd2 4
Cl x f3 + and 5 Cl x d2 with vic¬
tory.

E, Pogosyants, 1959

White to play

White realizes the relevant sacri¬

fices as follows:

1 S X c8 +!...
In this manner the rook is lured to
square c8.

1 . . . 3 xc8 2d7,..
This sacrifice steers the king to d7.
2 .. .<£>xd7 3 &g4 +
Here the sacrifice precipitates two
White recovers the material he has
double attacks.
just sacrificed with interest and
1 Cle5 + <£>a5 2 l&d8 + &b5 compound interest.

72
f'Jiskases—Kan advantage of the position of Black’s
( lame variant king and queen by 2 0 x f7 + ! By
eliminating the pawn at f7 White, in
response to 2 . . . 0 x f7, is able to
continue with 3 £3e6 + and 4
X c7. However, if Black had re¬
jected the sacrifice by playing 2 ...
<£>g8, events would have taken the
following course:
3 Og7+!<£>h84 0 Xh7+ <£>g8 5
0g7 + <£>h8 6 S x g6 by winning.

Tolush—A n tos bin

Leningrad 1956
White to play

In this case, too, White succeeds in

involving two of Black’s pieces in a
double attack.

I 0 xf7! 0 xd62 0 xg7+!

(£) X g7 3 dc + and 4 S x d6.

A sacrifice designed to eliminate the

defence is frequently resorted to be¬
fore a double attack. Here is a typi¬
cal case. Black to play

Kupper— Olafsson Black’s pieces appear to be hovering

Zurich 1959 threateningly over Black’s king. But
the ominous confrontation of the
two queens enabled Black to strike
back with a sacrifice followed by a
double attack.

1 . . . 0 xd3!

Much to his distress, White has to

accept this sacrifice with his rook
because his queen is busy covering
the pawn at g2. But now the queen
is without protection. After 2

White to play
0 xd3 Sel + 3<&f2 £e4+ 4
<£> X e 1 (tl x g6 Black captured the

After 1 A x g7 <£> x g7 White took queen and soon thereafter won the
game.
Ljubcmkt—Siepaniec Rabin ovitch—Chek hover
Poland 1955 Leningrad 1933
Game variant

Black to play Black to play

The situation is very tense. White The pawn on f2 is White’s sole pro¬
has just staged a double attack and tection against the double attack by
Black is threatened with mate by the bishop and the rook on square
2 a4 and the knight at d4 hangs. g2. How can it be eliminated? With
Drastic measures are called for. the aid of a sacrifice: 1 .. . ^g3! It
Black could, of course, m ove the has to be accepted by 2 fg, but this is
knight back to c6 in order to ward followed by 2 ... 0 x g2 4- 3 d)hl
off the check with the rook by £) a5. 0 dd2, and there is no escape from
But he found a better way out. If he a mate.
gives check on c2 with his queen, A sacrifice might also be resorted to
Black cannot create a knight fork for opening a file or rank in order to
on f3 because the pawn on g2 con¬ stage a double attack.
trols this square. But perhaps the
pawn can be eliminated. As soon as Bogo lyubo v~Capablan ca
you have studied this position you New York 1924
will have no difficulty finding the
effective sacrifice that ends the
game immediately:

1 . ..Af3+!

Due to the mate in one move by the

knight or the queen, the king can¬
not retreat, but if White plays 2 gf,
Black decides the issue by 2 ...
^c2 +, followed by 3 ...
£) x f3 4- forking White’s king and
queen. Black to play

74
 ...

A classic model. Black first sacri¬ Lowenfiscb—Ryumin

fices his knight by 1 ... x d4 2 Moscow 1936
ccl only to recover it by 2 ...
H 8 x c5. It becomes clear that 3 dc
is worthless due to the double at¬
tack 3 .. . x c5 + by which the
rook at cl is captured.

Alster—Betak
Prague 1956

White played the knight back to g3

despite the fact that he had a splen¬
did opportunity to engineer a
double attack in the form of two
threats of the second order by mak¬
ing a sacrifice. The correct continu¬
ation, which would have immedi¬
ately sealed Black’s fate, was 1
White sacrificed a bishop by 1 £)f6 + ! gf 2 ef. White has dislo¬
x h6 in order to dislodge the de¬ cated the defensive position of his
fensive system of Black’s king. After opponent’s king and gained a
I ... gh 2 ^g3+ , White’s queen threatening pawn on f6 by means of
moved speedily to the diagonal the sacrifice. As a result two threats
h2—b8, which is dangerous for the have been created with one stroke,
rival queen, making it possible to i. e. 3 l^fg3 + followed by 4 ^(g7
answer any move by the king with 3 mate and 3^xf8 + !dk>xf8 4
£) g6 + and 4 ^ x c7. Sd8 mate. There is no defence
against them.

The next example also illustrates

the destruction of the opposing
king’s fortifications and the open¬
ing of files for a subsequent double
attack as a means of ending a game
victoriously.

75
W. Richter—Casper Stolya r—A ve rbakh
Benshausen 1975 Leningrad 1938

Black had just moved his knight to The sacrifice shown in this example
b4 and attacked the pawn on a2. He was made for the three-fold pur¬
was expecting White to reply 1 pose of opening a file, pinning and
B c7, which could have been fol¬ smashing the defence. Its ultimate
lowed by 1 . . . fi x a2 2 £)f6 + purpose is the same, i. e. to launch a
<£>g6. But events took an entirely double attack.
different course:
1 . ..&Xg2 + !
1 £f6+!gf
By sacrificing the bishop. Black
The knight had to be taken, but this opens a file for the rook on d8. At
laid bare the king’s position. the same time White’s queen is
pinned when it takes the bishop and
2 Bc7+ C$?g6 3 firdl!
thus becomes unable to defend
This double attack-White is at¬ square f2 against a check by the
tacking the rook and threatening knight.
mate on g4—became possible
2 fir xg2 B xdl!
thanks to the sacrificed knight.
This has resulted in a mutual double
attack. White cannot play 3 fir x c6
because of 3 ... B x e 1 -I-.

3 B xdl £lf2+ 4<£>gl fir xg2 +

5(£?xg2£lxdl6 B xb4
B X c2 + 7 (£>gl B x b2 and Black
won the game.

76
Decoy attack out abandoning the point f2.
Consequently in this case, too, the
You are probably familiar with the inevitability of the events that took
technique of decoy in which a piece place was achieved with the aid of a
(or a pawn) defending a certain double attack.
chessman or square is distracted
From its defensive task. This tech¬ A similar course of events is shown
nique is also used for staging double in the next study.
attacks. Let us consider an elemen¬
tary example. A. Troitzky, 1924

Cbekbove r— S okolski

There are two ways in which Black

can defend himself against White’s
queening after 1 h7, but White wins
White defends himself against the in either case by distracting the hos¬
threatened mate on f2 with the tile rook thereby preventing it from
queen from e2. If Black attacks the fulfilling his duties. In both cases
queen by 1 . . . Sia.6, he eliminates the distraction is effected by a
the cover by a pin and forces imme¬ double attack:
diate capitulation. In this case the
double attack consisted of an attack (a) 1 ... Sh2 2 Sfl + &d2 3
on the queen and the mating threat 0f2+ 0 xf2 4h8(&)
on f2. The decisive factor was that (b) 1 ... Sd8 2 Sc6+ &d23
the attack itself was two-fold, be¬ Bd6+ 0 xd64h8(&).
cause as a result of it the queen is The tactical diversionary manoeu¬
pinned. Otherwise it could have vre shown in the next diagram is
moved away from square e2 with¬ somewhat more complicated.

77
L. Salkind, 1915 Cbekbove r—Kasparyan
Yerevan 1936

Both "White bishops are under at¬ White's queen attacks the knight,
tack, and Black threatens to take which is covered by Black’s queen.
the bishop on b2, giving check, By playing 1 l^h8 + White can
and then to return to the original drive Black’s king from his hideout,
position to prevent the pawn from but he does not achievesnything
queening if White's bishop on e8 substantial. But White can also
moves anywhere. For this reason launch a double attack by playing 1
White first plays 1 h7 + ! thereby h5. He is Still attacking the knight
drawing Black’s king away from the and threatening to checkmate the
pawn on e7 and forcing it to move king by 2 l^h8. Black's queen can¬
to a white square. not cover the knight and parry the
1 .. ,&xh72 &a4 U xb2 + 3 threat of a check. After 1 ...
&c2+!... & x h5 2 & x e6 White wins.

Thifc brilliant check brings about a An analogous case of diversion by a

double attack. White threatens to double attack is shown in the next
queen and attacks the hostile king. example given by G. Lisitsin.
The bishop has to be taken, but af¬
ter 3 ... h Xc2+ 4 <2?f3 it is clear
that the king can not return to the
8th rank because its own pawn on
c5 is in the way. Black soon runs out
of checks:

4 ... Bc3+ 5<&f4 Bc4+ 6<&f5.

White to play
By playing 1 S^f5 White threatens Smyslov—Lyublinski
mate on h7 and keeps the sights Moscow 1947
trained on the bishop on f6 at the
same time. To protect himself
against mate, Black has to reply
with 1 ... g6, but this deprives the
bishop of cover and results in a loss.
In this case a mate threat diverts the
pawn.

One frequently finds diversion by

double attack being used in practi¬
cal chess. Here are a few examples.

Bogo Lyubov—Sultan Khan

Prague 1931
Here, White first sacrifices a knight
by 1 £) X f7! £l x f7 in order to
mount a diversionary attack by 2
&b6!. If the bishop is taken by
2 . .. & x b6, then the game is de¬
cided by 3 X f7 + (2}h7 4 h5.
That is why Black’s reply is Z ...
S&d7. What happened then was: 3
& x d8 <&h7 4 4 x f7 ttf x d8 5
&g6 +, and Black resigned.

Makogonov—Mikenas
Tbilisi 1941

The knight on f4 saves Black from

mate in three (1 &eZ + d?a5 Z
Sa7+ Sa6 3 S x a6 mate). That
is why White brings about a double
attack by the diversionary move 1
Bd5 + ! By attacking the king he
forces Black to capitulate immedi¬
ately, because to 1 ... dba6 White
replies with the decisive Z &c8 +.

79
In reply to 1 t^d7, Black played
1 .., x f3 hoping that the threat¬
ened mate by 2 H g8 + ? x g8 3
& x g8 2 x g8 would force White
to return the queen immediately.
But White made a diversionary
thrust 2 Sg7l. Black may not touch
White’s rook because the rook e8 is
under attack. Thanks to the threat 3
2 x h7+ Black is forced to play
2 ... £)g5, after which White cap¬
tures a piece.

After 1 2cl + &b8 2&b4 + <&a8.

Alekhine— Nesto r
White gave mate in three by taking
Trinidad 1939
advantage of the unfortunate plac¬
ing of Black’s king (3 &f3 +!
2 xf3 4&e4 + !&xe45 2c8).
Please note the peculiar features of
these two diversionary sacrifices. In
the first case, by attacking the king,
White forces the rook to leave the
e-file and to leave the square e4 un¬
covered. In other words 3 Af3 4- is
an attack with a threatened check
by the queen on e4, which in itself is
White to play a two-fold attack. After removing
the bishop, White realizes the threat
White carried out an original op¬ of this two-fold attack in order to
eration on the theme of diversion: 1 divert Black’s queen from covering
2c8!. By attacking Black’s rook, he the square c8.
threatens to give mate by 2 )^f8 4-
thereby forcing Black to play 1 ...
2 x c8. But this is followed by an
elegant diversionary thrust 2 t^e7!!, The two-fold
A double attack has thus material¬ double attack
ized : firstly White threatens a swift
mate by 3 d8(^) + and, secondly 3 In the course of a game a situation
x e6 followed by 4 dc(l^f) mate. can arise in which one player un¬
Black capitulated because he was leashes a double attack, but his op¬
unable to parry both threats. ponent is able to defend himself
The next position comes from a against it successfully. But the con¬
game of the grandmaster Duras. flict is by no means over. A critical

80
 situation ensues in which a two-fold Belenki—Pirogov
double attack may prove decisive. Moscow 1958
This development in its simplest
t form is illustrated in the following
'j; study

■ fl.Rinck

Black to play

In this position the rook on gl pro-

tects White's king against mate on
g2 and the queen protects it from
Wliite to play and win mate on h5. A single move, which
brings about a double attack, is
hirst of all White moves a pawn to enough to end the game immedi¬
the 7th rank thereby threatening to ately: 1 ... Bel!
queen;

1 h7! (not, of course, 1 a7? Bg8!,

,
F. Sackman 1910
A. Cheron, 1965
and Black saves himself) 1 ... Shi
2 a7 Sal

For the time being Black is able to

ward off the two threats, each pawn
being attacked by a Black rook. But
White frustrates Black’s plans with
a single move.

3 Bdl!

By attacking both rooks simultane¬

ously, White severs their contacts
with the pawns. Black has no de¬
Draw
fence left ; one of the pawns queens
inexorably.
After 1 c7 B c6 2 e7 B he6 we have
And here is a middle game position a familiar situation: White’s queen¬
in which the same two-fold double ing threats are parried by Black’s
attack decides matters. rooks. The first impression is that

81
White might as well throw in the &c5 Bc6 + 6 &>d5 ®g7 7 e8(&)
towel. But White has a surprise up (if7c8(&)?then7 . ,.Bxc88
his sleeve: <£>xe6 B e8! 9 <t?d7 ^>f7> and
Black wins) 7 ... Bed6 + 8 d)c5
3£d6H...
B xe89&xd6.
Viewed superficially, this move is
incomprehensible: White, who Nenarokov—Grigoryev
hardly has anything, gives away Moscow 1923
even that.

3 ... 0cxd6+ 4&c4 Bc6+ 5

Black to play

Again a situation which we have en-

countered several times in this chap-
ter. Black has two threats, i. e. a
This is the whole point of White’s threat of the first order (queening
plan. By sacrificing his knight, the pawn on d-file in one move) and
White is able to launch a second one of the second order (queening
double attack. This is a remarkable the h-pawn in two moves). The first
development. Black has two rooks threat is countered by the rook, the
against two isolated pawns on files c second by the bishop. By means of
and e, but for each pawn he has to the impressive move 1 . . . &d6!!,
give a rook. by which the coverless bishop is
If Black had taken the knight with placed at the point of intersection of
the other rook, then 3 . . . the lines of fire of the opponent’s
B e x d6 + would have been fol¬ rook and bishop. Black destroys
lowed by 4 d?e4 0e6 + 5 £l?d5 their co-ordination and wins the
with the same result. But what game. Strictly speaking 1 . . . &d6
would have happened If Black had is actually a three-fold attack in
not captured the knight straight which Black attacks the bishop on
away and played 3 ^ x h7 in¬ c7 and threatens to queen on the d-
stead? file and to play h3—h2.
Then the only line of play leading
to a draw is 4 Ct?d4! B c x d6 + 5
K. Behting only a bishop, but any other chess¬
man, save the king of course, can be
placed at the point of intersection of
the hostile pieces.

A. Troitzky, 1926
Conclusion of a study

White to play and win

In this position the knight on d4 is

making two mating threats, i. e. on
c2 and b3, but for the time being the
bishop and the rook are able to
parry them. How can White disrupt Black to play
the co-ordination of Black’s pieces
and plan a new double attack? A White has unleashed a double at¬
diversionary sacrifice is the answer: tack-threat of 1 e8(l&) as well as 1
ed(&)—but Black finds an ingenious
1 0h3! 0 xh3 2f3...
move to counter it by playing 1 ...
Nothing is to be gained yet by 2 Sd4!. As you can see, Black uses
&d3 because of 2 . ..Shi+ , that the most promising line of play by
is why the rook has first to be lured refuting White’s double attack with
to the f-file. a double attack of his owm, 2
ed(&) being frustrated by the rook
2 ... S xf3 3 &d3!!...
and 2 e8(^) is foiled by the dis¬
And here is that blow again which covered check 2 ...^b5 + .
prevents co-ordinated action of White’s king dodges the threatened
Black’s pieces and which immedi¬ discovered check by moving to 2
ately decides the issue, because C£>cl, but Black nevertheless plays
3 .. x d3 is followed by 4 £lb3 2 ... £&b5. This is followed by the
mate, and 3 ... S x d3 by 4 £)c2 last double attack by 3 £)d7!. The
mate. two queening threats become acute
again and Black is unable to ward
It is worth mentioning that in the
them off.
case of such a two-fold defence not

83
Koskinen—Kasanen even the two-fold double attack is
Helsinki 1967 not fatal, but only if the defending
player has a new strong threat. Just
such a situation is shown in the fol¬
lowing example.

Dii rscb—Ta rrascb

Nuremberg 1908
Game variant

It is almost inconceivable that such

a confused position occurred in an
actual game. White’s king is in a
precarious situation, although for
the time being it is protected by its
pieces from direct threats, the rook
on h2 preventing a mate by the Black to play
knight on c2, whilst the bishop and
the queen prevent a strike against Whose position is preferable? It is
b4. But by a manoeuvre already not easy to answer this question off
familiar to us, Black manages to dis¬ the cuff. On the one hand, White
rupt the co-ordination of the enemy has just mounted a double attack—
pieces: 1 . . . X b4 -I-!! 2 x b4 Black’s pawn on h7 and rook c8 are
Bd2!!, after which White is con¬ hanging—on the other hand Black’s
fronted by the insoluble problem of queen along with the knight are
parrying the two threatened mates threatening mate on f3 and d 1, of
on b4 and c2. If he plays 3 S x d2 which the first is parried by White’s
he is given mate by 3 ... ab, and if queen and the second by the rook.
he tries 3 & x d2 his pieces get in Black found an instructive possibil¬
each other’s way. By playing 3 ... ity of refuting White’s threats and
<£)c2 + Black diverts the queen launching a two-fold counter-offen¬
from covering square b4 and forces sive of his own.
a mate anyway. 1 .. . Bc7!
The justifiable question arises This creates a critical situation for
whether there is any defence White. No piece may take the rook
against the two-fold double attack. because of mate, at the same time
It turns out that in special cases White’s queen is attacked, and if it

84
 ...

sidesteps, White loses his rook on Particularly

d7. But White rises to the occasion.
strong moves
2 b5!!...
When we spoke about the resources
Notice how each move radically af¬
of defence against attacks we
fects the prospects of both players,
pointed out that one of the most ac¬
posing difficult problems for each
tive methods of defence is the mu¬
to solve. At the moment 3 &f8
tual attack or counterattack. For
threatens mate, for which reason
now the attacker himself immedi¬
Black may not take any of the
ately has to turn his attention to
pieces being attacked. In this com¬
warding off an attack. Now that we
plicated situation Black found no¬
have acquainted ourselves with the
thing better than 2 ... t&dl -I- 3
double attack, we can say that a
S x d 1 0 x b7, after which the
counterattack in the form of a
chances of winning were about
double attack is a still more effec¬
equal. Although 2 . . . &e2 would
tive method of defence. We have al¬
not have brought Black more than a
ready come across such situations
draw because of 3 S x h7 +!
(see diagrams 70, 101, 102, 103). In
<£> x h7 (3 ...Sxh74&f8 +
the present chapter we shall ex¬
<£>h5 5&xh7 + )4&xc7 + .
amine the question of defence by
It seems that 1 ... Sc7 is not the
double attack a little closer.
strongest move and that the modest
continuation 1 . . . Oh8 deserves
J. Hasek, 1923
attention. Black would indeed have
Variation of a study
been able to pose some very effec¬
tive threats had he chosen to cover
his pawn on h7. He would have
been able to reply to 2 b5, for in¬
stance, with 2 . . . ^9ff5! with the in¬
tention of playing 3 ... &b 1 -I-. Af¬
ter 2 &b2 &h3! 3 &g7 4- <&h5 4
Od5+ £) f5, Black would have re¬
tained his offensive. But given the
best possible reply, i. e. 2 i&cl ^fh3
3 tk x e3, White’s chances of de¬
fending himself successfully would
have been good.

White replies to 1 .. . al(&) + by

playing 2 &e5!. This is not merely a
defensive move.
White not only attacks the newly
acquired queen but also threatens

85
mate by 3 7. Thus, we have here Let us pause to examine this posi¬
a case of defence by a double at¬ tion. It is not difficult to see that this
tack. After the forced sequence is a double attack. White, who has
2 ... t&a2 3c7 &c4 4c8(&) + brought his bishop h6 to safety, at¬
c8 5 &{7 White achieves his tacks the rook and threatens mate
objective after all and gives mate. by playing his bishop to f7. Black
can defend himself by 2 .. . Bg5 or
The next study again shows a
2 ... S d6. Black’s rook tries to get
double attack.
out of reach of the bishop. But
White plays 3 &f7 + Bg6 4^h2!
H. Mattison, 1930 and the rook is lost. Black would
not have fared any better by playing
3 .. .^h6 after 2 . . . Og5 3
&f7 + because of 4 &e8!
It remains to be said that 2 &e3 is
the only move that leads to success.
If White plays 2 &d2, Black saves
himself by an effective move: 2 ...
Bf5!, because 3 A x f5 results in
stalemate. In the case of 2 &f4, on
the other hand, Black can play
4 . . . '{S}g4! after 2 . . . Sg5 3
7+ Sg6 4&h2.
White to play and win

And here are a few examples from

White’s bishops are threatened. It
seems that White will not be able to tournaments.
extricate himself from this situation
without losing material. But White Heemsoth—Heissenbutter
Federal Republic of Germany 1938
has an interesting possibility.

1 Sd5! Q xd52&e3!!...

86
 I'he situation is very tense. Black what better is 2 <&g3 t&g6 + 3 £}g4
has attacked the knight on c2 and hg) 2 ...&bl+ 3<&h2&gl+ 4
threatens mate. It seems that White &g3 &f2 mate.
lias to go on the defensive. But on This means that the most important
taking a closer look one notices that thing for White is to neutralize the
White could checkmate his oppo¬ dangerous bishop on b6. You will
nent in two moves by 1 B x h7 + notice that the bishop plays a part in
followed by 2 i&g7 if his own rook the threatened perpetual check, but
on g5 were not in his way. The most that it also prevents the rook from
expedient way to convert this situa¬ penetrating to square d8. As soon as
tion is by covering the mate on c2 we realize that the bishop is over¬
and launching a double attack at loaded with duties, we find the ele¬
the same time: 1 Bc5!!. He coun¬ gant move 1 l^fc5!!. Whilst protect¬
ters Black’s 1 . . . 'ftl x c5 by bring¬ ing himself from a check by the
ing home his second threat: 2 bishop, White simultaneously
B x h7 + (£> x h7 3 itlg7 mate. threatens mate on c8 and f8 with his
queen. What is more, the queen
Kretschmar—Latte may not be taken because of 2
Eisenach 1951 Bd8 + with an inevitable mate. In
effect White has three threats {the
two immediate threats 2 ittfS + and
2 >&c8 + and—after the queen is
taken—the indirect threat of 2
Bd8 + ).

Maroczy—Romi
San Remo 1930

White can capture his opponent’s

queen with his knight, but this only
leads to a draw with a perpetual
check. How can White protect him¬
self against this threat?
1 h4 ??, for instance would be very
bad because of 1 ...Bhl + 12
<£>xhl &bl+ 3&h2 &gl+ 4
(£>h3 l&hl mate. Weak is also 1 It is not so easy to unravel this situa¬
&xf4 Bh 1 + ! 2 <£> x hi (some¬ tion. White’s queen is threatened,

87
but it may not be touched due to the Taimanov—Zhukhovitski
check on g8 threatened by the rook, Leningrad 1949
followed by e7—e8(\&) +. But Game variant
Black threatens 1 . . . B x g2 + 2
B xg2 &xg2+ 3<&xg2
B x h6, which promises Black a
piece advantage. How should
White defend himself? It would be
bad, for instance, to play the queen
to g5, because Black would reply
with a decisive series of blows 1 . . .
Bxh3+!2&gl &b6 + .Nor
does 1 Bg8 + S xg8 2&h5 +
&d7 3e8(&) + B xe8 4&xe8 +
(t?c7 look promising. White to play
White’s position looks critical. And
yet there is a way out—and not only White has already carried out a
that but even a way to victory. By double attack. His queen has at¬
playing 1 ^fh5!! White is able to tacked Black’s rook and his pawn is
stage a magnificent double attack, threatening to queen. But for the
threatening a devastating double time being White cannot profit
check by 2 Sg8+, against which from the double attack, because his
Black has no adequate defence. The opponent is poised to make a strong
finale took the following course: threat by playing 1 .. . ^g3+ to
1 .. . 0 x g2 4- (no longer danger¬ be followed by 2 ... ^fh6 mate.
ous) 2 B x g2 4- B x h5 3 B x b2 Thus, White has to find a move that
□ xh3 + 4 d?gl! B h7 5 Bh2! thwarts the mate threat and keeps
Bg7+ 6 d?f2 Bg8 7 Bh6 <&f7 the double attack going. These con¬
(loses at once, and even other ditions are satisfied by 1 £)f5! al¬
moves do not come to the rescue) 8 though White has to reckon with
e8(&)+ B xe8 9 Bh7 + . Black’s replying 1 .. . Bd2! by
which Black attacks the queen,
brings his rook to safety and pre¬
vents the pawn from queening.

2 & xd2!!...

This is the punch-line. White sacri¬

fices his queen in order to press
home his threat of queening his
pawn.

2 .. . &xd23 Badl &a5 4

Bgel! £)d4.

88
 ....!!!!(i i 11 tslii) 1111 liillH IHHHlI

No better would be 4 ... t&d8 5 two threats: 2 i^fel mate and 2 <£>f2
0 x e2 K5 6 S e7, and Black is com¬ mate. The only defence against this
pletely helpless. is 1 .. . &f8 + , but then the third
threat (of the second order) materi¬
5 0 e8 <£>g8 6 0 x d4. White won
alizes: 2 <£>g3 + ^gl 3 t&g2 mate.
easily.
Now let us just see why 1 t&d5 ?
In all examples examined White de¬ would not have produced the de¬
fended himself by conjuring up sired results. In this case Black
double attacks by means of masterly would still have had a defence. By
well masked moves. Unlike moves threatening stalemate he would
that constitute pure double attacks, have transposed his queen to the g-
moves aimed at staging double at¬ file by 1 ... ^fg8! and saved him¬
tacks as a means of defence could self.
be regarded as particularly strong In this example it was not difficult
moves. Incidentally, one should not to find the decisive move I l&e4.
only look for and find such moves, The threats were by and large obvi¬
but one should be in a position to ous. But this is not always the case.
recognize them in advance. Very often one has to have a thor¬
Pure attack moves containing three ough understanding of the position
threats simultaneously, two threats in order to be able to find the
and one attack, one threat and two decisive move embodying various
attacks or even three attacks can threats.
also be included in the category of
Let us examine the following study.
particularly strong moves.

Let us first consider some positions V andM. Platov, 1909

in the field of end-games.

E. Pogosyants, 1976

Can you imagine this position oc¬

curring in a game between average
players? After 1 ^f6 d4 White is
White plays 1 1&e4! thereby posing convinced that he cannot prevent

89
the appearance of a black queen. flee by 3 ... dJd2, White follows
For this reason he replied 2 £lf3 up with a double attack by playing 4
and after 2 ... al(i^f) continued b3 +. There is only one line of
with A X d4 + x d4 4 £l x d4. defence against the threatened
After 4 ... x d4 5 <&g4 & x d3 6 mate, i. e. 3 . . . ^fa5, but White
&g5 &e4 7 &h6 <2>f5 8 & x h7 counters this with a double attack
($?f6 the final game ends in a draw. threat of the higher order: 4
AH this is uncomplicated, forced A x d4 + ! x d4 5 £lb3 + and
and colourless. But this study calls the queen is lost after all.
for White’s victory. This means that As you see, White’s move 3 £lcl,
we have to look for other more so¬ which was difficult to find and even
phisticated solutions. It is only fair more difficult to anticipate, embod¬
to warn che reader that the moves ied a mating threat and two double
leading to victory are extremely dif¬ attack threats, one of the first, the
ficult to find. To be sure, the first other of the second order.
move with Black’s response—1 Af6
Also in the following well-known
d4—is correct. But instead of 2 £lf3
study the finish is decided by a par¬
White plays 2 £le2, because Black’s
ticularly strong move.
king cannot take the knight yet. But
what remedy is there for 2 ... A. Zeletski, 1933
al(&)?
Here White comes up with a parti¬
cularly strong move. In what ap¬
pears to be utter disregard of com¬
mon sense he plays 3 £lcl!!...

White to play and win

After 1 &a6+ <&b8 2 &g3+ &a8

3 Ab7 + ! A X b7 White plays 4
£ld7! This move is an attack and
creates a mating threat by 5 £lb6.
But we soon realize that the knight Black parries both threats with
is unassailable due to 4 &g5 + and 4 .. . t&d8. But White follows this
that by playing his knight to cl up with a masked threat of a higher
White threatens mate by playing his order: He plays 5 i£&b8 + ! and gives
bishop to g5. At once Black’s king mate after 5 .. . & x b8 by playing
finds itself in a cage, for if it tries to 6 £lb6.

90
 diiiitmmtitHmmFHmmtmiumminmtFFinniFmH

In the foregoing studies the third It is easy to guess how the situation
threat was connected with a sacri¬ shown in the diagram will end.
fice. But this does not necessarily White has not got a single pawn,
have to be the case. that is why if he wants to win he has
either to mate or capture Black’s
H, Pogosyants, 1976 rook. Since Black threatens to play
1 ... (£?c7, White has to hurry in
order to build up a mating network
around his opponent’s king in time.
Black’s possibilities are restricted
most effectively by the discovered
check 1 £lf6. Let us first examine
this move. It is a sudden double at¬
tack. Apart from the check, White
threatens a fork 2 £le8 + if 1 ...
<2)c7. But Black can still play 1 ...
White to play and win <£>c8. After 2 Scl+ Blatk natu¬
rally does not proceed to b8 be¬
In this situation it is 1 £lf5+ that cause of mate in two moves, but re¬
decides the game. This move is first turns to d8, after which White has
of all an attack and it also poses the achieved a mere perpetual check.
threat of a double attack, i. e. 1 ... There is a much stronger double at¬
(t?e8 is followed by 2 d6 +, and tack:
finally after 1 .. . (t?g8 White
1 &f8 + !...
threatens to give mate by 2 £lh6 +
and 3 &b2 + . In this way White also prevents the
king from moving to c7, but the
The following study illustrates the
king has two possibilities: retreating
combination of particularly strong
either to c8 or to e8. Let us examine
moves with double attacks.
them in that order.
L. Kubbel, 1939 1 ...<£>c8

White has a particularly strong

move in reply: 2 Ocl +. It attacks
the enemy king and poses two si¬
multaneous threats: if 2 ... <£>d8
then 3 £le6 +, if 2 ... <£>b8 then 3
£ld7+ followed by 4 Oal mate.

1 ...<£>e8

In this case the first player also has a

particularly strong move, i. e. 2
£le6! While attacking the rook,

91
White poses two threats simultane¬ Zbivayeva— Gaprindasbvili
ously: if 2 .. . Sf7 then 3 0d8 Tbilisi 1976
mate or if 2 ... 13 h7 then 3 Sd8 +
dbf7 4 £)g5 + . Black has no choice
other than to play his rook to g8.
But then White springs a masked
threat, or more precisely, a threat of
the fourth order. He forces mate in
four: 3 £}c7+ {£>f7 4 Ofl + dbg7
5 £l e6 4- {£>h6 6 S h 1 mate!

Aisenstadt—Margolis
Leningrad 1957

Black to play

Black’s position seems critical.

Mate is threatened on c7, and 1 ...
0 d7 is followed by 2 &c5 + &d8
3 & x a7 with decisive threats. And
yet Black has deliberately got her¬
self entangled in this situation, hav¬
ing foreseen the opportunity of
launching a triple attack by sacrifi¬
cing a piece, thereby taking advan¬
tage of the insecure posting of her
By the particularly strong move 1 opponent’s king. She played
0 a8! the first player instantly
1 .. . ^ X d4+!! 2cd ^fh4 +
achieves a winning position in an
impressive show of skill. He attacks And there it is—the triple attack!
the rook e8 and poses two collateral Black is attacking the king, the
threats: the mating threat by 2 bishop and the pawn on d4. White
t~5ff8 -I- S X f8 3 0 X f8 and the saved her bishop by 3 £&g3, but this
threat of a double attack by 2 was followed up by 3 . . . & X d4 4-
^fe6 4-! If Black takes the rook 4&g2?. . .
then the game is decided by 2
The radical turn of events confused
&d5+ &f7 3&xa8 + and mate
the opponent of the world cham¬
on the next move. The only defence
pion woman chess player, so that
— 1 ... #f7 — is thwarted by 2
she failed to adopt the best line of
\&d8 as well as 2 thcb with the loss
defence. Supported by the threat¬
of the rook.
ened mate, White should have
The next example shows the inter¬ played 4 d?f 1. Black would have
esting case of a triple attack. had to answer with 4 ... Sd7, be-

92
 i ause 4 ... £)e3 + 5 C£>e2 is worth¬ Needless to say, it may be that we
less. After 4 .. . & x a 1 + 5 l^ff6 too shall be examining examples of
£)e3+ 6<&e2 £ Xc27l&xd4 such opening blunders, which are
£l x d4 + Black would be one normally cited in literature as exam¬
pawn up, but after the reply 8 (i?d3 ples of what one should not do in
White could have continued giving openings. But our aim is somewhat
stiff resistance. different. We examine the two-fold
Hut the game ended, after 4 (£?g2?, attack as a tactical method, whereas
on the following note: 4 . . . £le3 + the organization of the co-ordi¬
3 <&>h3 (White apparently thinking nated attack on f7 forms the basis of
that her king was out of danger, but White’s strategy in many Open
. . .) 5 ... it^fg4 + ! 6 fg hg double Games. Our intention is to familiar¬
check and mate! ize you with examples of the open¬
ing game in which the attack on f7
is of a tactical nature and which
have nothing to do with the strate¬
The double attack
gic concertion of the opening, i. e.
in the opening in which the attack comes suddenly
as a result of rash moves on the part
You will no doubt know that the ba¬ of the defender.
sic thought behind many open As you know, White’s strategy in
games is organizing an offensive on the Sicilian Defence hinges on cer¬
the weak point f7 in Black’s camp. tain moves in the centre and on the
As soon as the f-file is opened—as it king’s side. Only occasionally does
often is with the King’s Gambit—or a battle flare up around f7 as well,
the bishop appears on c4 in the first but this is a tactical development.
few moves—as with the Italian For this reason we have culled a few
Opening, the Evans Gambit or the examples of sudden attack on f7
Scottish Gambit—Black must be on taken from this opening.
his guard and keep a cautious eye
on his opponent’s moves that might Sicilian Defence eame 1
be aimed at the weakest spot in his Thomas—Shapiro
position. The same applies to the Antwerp 1932
Two-Knight Opening, in which
1 e2—e4 c7-c5
White openly tries to attack this
2£gl-f3 £g8~f6
square with two pieces. The open¬
3 £)bl—c3 d7—d5
ings just mentioned have been ana¬
4e4xd5 £f6xd5
lysed in detail and all or nearly all
5&fl-b5+ &c8-d7
examples of inadequate Black de¬
fence allowing White to take the Let us try to find our bearings in
point f7 by storm have found their the events that have taken place on
place in textbooks on openings a the board. Black’s move 3 . . . d5 is
long time ago. not exactly the best. As a result of

93
this premature thrust, the knight on easiest way to victonr is 11 A c4 +
d5 is in a precarious position, which £ld5 12 &xd5+ ©xd5 13
White wants to use to his advantage £)f7 + with the capture of the
by giving check with his bishop on queen.
b5. The correct answer to this check And here is a relatively recent ex¬
is, without fearing the doubling of ample from master-class competi¬
pawns, the deployment of the tions.
knight to c6. But after the move
with the bishop the knight on d5
hangs, which creates favourable Sicilian Defence game 2
conditions for tactical operations. A ronin—Kanto rovich
Moscow 1960
6£lf3—e5! £ld5xc3??
1 e2—e4 c7—c5
2 £lgl-f3 g7-g6
3 c2—c3 b7—b6

Black tries to experiment in the

opening. It is, of course, very easy
to thwart such a plan. But in my
opinion such a strategy is admissible
provided that it is carried out with
precision and that a sharp eye is
kept on the opponent’s plans and
threats.
Black would like to exchange his
4 d2-d4 &c8-b7
knight, but this natural move proves
a mistake and results in a loss. Rela¬ Black’s plan is to put pressure on
tively better was 6 ... A X b5 7 White’s central pawns.
&f3 f6 8 £ x b5 fe 9 & x d5, al¬
5&fl—c4!
though in this case, too. White had
the advantage. White protects the pawn by threat¬
ening the point f7. Black should
7&dl-f3!
have gone on alert already when
And here we have the two-fold at¬ White placed the bishop on c4.
tack on f7, which guarantees White
5 ... d7—d5
success. Black has no adequate de¬
fence left. Black opens the game. This move in
no way fits in with the sluggish de¬
7 ... f7—f6
fence system he has chosen. On top
8&f3-h5 + g7—g6
of that it has two serious tactical
9£)e5xg6! &e8-f7
drawbacks: f7 becomes even more
10£lg6—e5+!
vulnerable and the diagonal a4—e8
Black resigns. After 10 .. . C&eb the is weakened. In other words, the

94
move 5 ... d5 is a mistake and puts 7 &fl-c4 h7—h6
Black in a difficult position. 8&g5xf6 g7 x f6
6e4xd5 &b7xd5

This taking of the pawn loses imme¬

diately. Better would have been
6 ... Cl f6 or 6 ... &g7 and to ac¬
cept the loss of the pawn.
7^dl-a4+ &d5—c6
If Black had played 7 ... C)c6 he
would not have fared better because
of 8'0e5 0c8 9 &b5 &c7 10 &f4
&h6 11 &g3 with loss of material.
Up to this point there was nothing
worth commenting on in the open¬
ing. An extremely dynamic, modern
variant of the Sicilian Defence was
played in which White quite often
sacrifices a piece on e6, d5 or b5. In
view of the fact that White’s pieces
are ominously aimed at Black’s po¬
sition, Black would be well advised
to be especially careful so as not to
overlook some dangerous threat
from his opponent. White has
8 C]f3—e5! chosen to exchange on f6 so as not
The decisive manoeuvre! If Black to lose any time. The only correct
takes the queen, White follows up answer was 8 ... C x f6. But nov^
with 9 A x f7 mate, or if 8 ... i^fc7 White sacrifices the bishop on f7
then the easiest reply is 9 Cl X c6 and immediately proceeds to moun¬
Cl x c6 10 d5 with piece advantage. ting a decisive attack with two
Seeing this, Black resigned. pieces, taking advantage of the ga¬
ping weakness of square e6.
Sicilian Defence game 3
9&c4xf7+! &e8xf7
Voorema—Zakharyan
10&dl-h5 +
Minsk 1964
Black resigned. If 10 ... <£>g8 then
1 e2—e4 c7—c5
11 C e6 with an attack on the queen
2 Cl g 1 —f 3 d7—d6
and mating threat by 12 l£&g6 + .
3 d2—d4 c5 X d4
4Cf3xd4 Cg8—f6 And here is an example in which a
5Cbl—c3 a&—a6 premature attack on f7 led to pre¬
6 &cl-g5 Cb8~d7 cisely the opposite result.

95
French Defence game 4 White has consistently stuck to his
L ehmati n—Teschn er plan and made a fork. But he neg¬
Bad Pyrmont 1950 lected a very important detail:

1 e2—e4 e7—e6 10 ... I&e7—b4mate.

2 d2—d4 d7—d5
Double check and mate!
3 £lbl—c3 d5 x e4
4 £)c3 x e4 £b8—d7 In the next example f7 is only one of
5 £lgl-f3 £lg8—f6 two objectives at which the attack is
6£lf3~g5 aimed.

As in a similar version of the Caro- game 5

Spanish Game
Kann Defence (see below) White is
Mohrlok—Kramer
planning a quick attack on f7. But
Varna 1962
here the sacrifice is useless, which is
why Black provokes his opponent ! e2—e4 e7—e5
with the next move to carry out his 2£lgl~f3 £lb8~c6
plan. 3 Afl—b5 a7—a6
4 &b5~a4 d7—d6
6 .. &f8—c7
5 d2-d4 b7—b5
7£lg5xf7?? <&e8xf7
6 &a4~b3 £)c6 X d4
8£e4—g5+ <&f7—g8
7 £)f3xd4 e5 x d4
9£)g5xe6
8 c2—c3 d4—d3
White’s plan was to attack the
This move is a sheer waste of time.
queen and to gain control over
The balance is redressed by 8 ...
square c7. On top of that he wanted
&b7.
to capture the rook on a8. But there
was a little flaw in his reasoning... 9 a2—a4 &c8~d7
I0a4xb5 a6xb5??
9 ... &d8-e8
I0£le6xc7
182

lei

96
 .....

\pparcntly a move played automat¬

ically. In this position White suc¬
ceeds in launching a double attack,
\\ hich immediately decides matters.
Il&dl—h5! d3-d2 +
12 ficl xd2
Black resigned. 12 ... g6 is fol¬
lowed by 13 &d5, threatening mate
on f7 and attacking the rook on a8.

in a more recent example taken

i rom a game played by two grand¬ Usually 12 ^f4 is played at this
masters, an unexpected strike was point. White tries to adopt a new
made on f2. plan, which includes preparations
for castling long, but his plan suf¬
Caro-Kann Defence game 6 fers a surprising fiasco. The cause of
Sue tin—Kholmov failure is the insecure posting of
Budapest / 976 White's knight on e5.

1 e2—e4 c7—c6 12 . .. *c5xf2+!

2d2-d4 d7—d5 A bolt from the blue! After 13
3 £bl—c3 d5 x e4 <£>xf2 &xe5 14 &xe5 £ig4 +
4 £lc3 x e4 £b8—d7 Black recovers the piece by a fork
5 £kfl-~c4 £g8—f6 and remains one pawn up.
6 £le4—g5 e7-e6
7 &dl-e2 You will recall that conditions for a
double attack are particularly fa¬
In this version of the Caro-Kann vourable if the two sides decide to
Defence, White deploys his pieces have an exchange by attack and
hv attacking f7.
counterattack.
7 ... £d7~b6
IrregularKing's Pawn Opening
1 n this manner Black refutes the
Rusakov— Verlinski
threat 8 £l x f7 & x f7 9 & x e6 +.
Moscow 1948 game 7
8 &c4-d3 h7—h6
1 e2—e4 e7-e5
The pawn d4 may not be taken be- 2 c2—c3 £lb8—c6
cause of 9 £Hf3 followed by 10 3d2-d4 £lg8—f6
£le5 with a two-fold attack on f7. 4&cl~g5 h7—h6
5 Ag5-h4 g7-g5
9 £g5—f3 c6—c5
6 &h4-g3 e5xd4
10 d4 x c5 &f8 x c5
7 e4—e5 d4 xc3
11 £f3-e5 &d8-c7
12 &cl-d2 The two opponents have disre-

97
garded all cliches in their opening Spanish Opening game 8

moves. By sacrificing his pawn 8 Ho rt—Zhelyandinov

£l x c3 White could have profited Havana 1967
from an active position. But he
- 1 e2—e4 e7—e5
chose to have an exchange instead,
2 £gl—f3 £b8—c6
misjudging the possible conse¬
3 Afl-b5 a7—a6
quences to boot.
4 &b5 x c6 d7 x c6
8e5xf6? c3xb2 5 0-0 f7—f6
9&dl-e2 + 6 d2—d4 e5 x d4
7£f3xd4 c6-c5
8£d4-b3 &d8 xdl*
9 Sfl x dl &f8-d6
10£lb3—a5!

The line adopted by White is ac¬

cording to a recipe by Fischer, who
used it successfully in a number of
games. The intention behind the
knight’s move to a5 is to make
Black’s development of his queen’s
side more difficult.

10 ... &c8-g4?
White was banking on eliminating
the dangerous pawn on b2. But Black tries to solve his development
events took an entirely different problems by tactical means.
course.
11 f2—f3 0-0-0
9 ... &d8-e7!!
10 f6 x e7 &f8-g7!

White resigned.

A tragicomic situation. White is a

queen and a knight up, but he can
only prevent the pawn from queen¬
ing by giving away his own queen,
after which Black’s material superi¬
ority wins.

The next two examples show play¬

ers who have been “hoist with their
own petard”. Black had planned to answer 12 fg
They show how the player setting a with 12 ... A x h2 +, but there
trap for his opponent ends up as the was a most unpleasant surprise in
victim. store for him.

98
12 e4—e5! 9 ... ^ X d4 is refuted by 10
&b5 + .
A double attack of decisive impact.
The loss of one of the two bishops This survey, which covered only a
being inevitable, Black resigned. small group of openings, proves
that one has to reckon with the pos¬
French Defence game 9 sibility of a double attack from the
Kotkov—Akopyan first few moves on, i. e. even in the
Krasnodar 1966 development phase. Such factors as
insecurely posted pieces, reciprocal
1 e2—e4 e7—e6
attacks and various pins increase
2 d2-d4 d7-d5
the danger of double attacks.
3 £)bl—c3 d5 X e4
Forks, discovered checks and
4 £)c3 X e4 &c8—d 7
double checks and even more com¬
’[‘he problem of developing the plicated cases of the double attack
queen’s bishop can also be solved in — all these things can occur in the
this peculiar manner. opening stage. However, the double
attack normally occurs as a result of
5 £)gl— f3 S&d7—c6
a bad mistake, of underestimating
6&fl-d3 £)g8~f6
the opponent’s plan, miscalcula¬
7 £)e4x f6 + &dBxf6?
tion, carelessness and sometimes
Black tries to lure his opponent into simply as a result of thoughtless,
a trap. He plans to answer 8 &g5 mechanical playing.
with the two-fold attack 8 ...
& x f3 and if 9 ^ x f3 then 9 ...
x f3 with equalization.
The double attack
8&cl-g5 &c6xf3 in the end-game

Many chess-players entertain the

mistaken notion that tactics is
something that concerns the mid¬
dle-game, while the end-game is
governed by strategy and that tacti¬
cal features occur only in excep¬
tional problem situations. Despite
the fact that many positions dis¬
cussed in the preceding chapters to
illustrate various aspects of the
double attack were end-game situa¬
9&dl-d2! tions, we have decided to devote a
Black had overlooked this possibil¬ special chapter to the theme of
ity. His queen is trapped because double attack in the end-game. We

99
set ourselves the task of showing
that tactics, especially the double at¬
tack, is part and parcel of end-game
strategy and that in many cases it is
one of the basic methods of chess
play.
You wilt, of course, know that in
the end-game the king is relatively
safe, as a result of which tactics in
the sense of a double attack on the
king rarely succeeds in achieving its
purpose. Instead, a different objec¬ White’s king is threatening to out¬
tive is pursued in the end-game: the flank his opposite number. To pre¬
queening of pawns. Tactics in gen¬ vent this, Black’s king must go into
eral and the double attack in parti¬ opposition. But this is not enough.
cular plays an outstanding role in Let us assume it is Black’s move. In
dealing with problems of queening. this case he must step aside and
Let us begin our analysis with ele¬ White carries out one of his threats:
mentary pawn end-game positions, 1 ... <&d5 2 <&b4 <&c6 3 <&c4 <&b6
in which the king and an inside 4 <&d5 <&c7 5 <&c5 <&d7 6 <&b6 etc.
pawn are fighting against the lone But if it is White’s turn to play, then
opposing king. There is a simple Black’s king can foil the White
rule covering such positions. If the king’s advance and the game is
pawn has crossed the middle line, drawn, e. g. 1 <&b3 <&b5 or 1 <&d3
then it is enough for the stronger &d5, etc.
players king to stay in front of the Thus we see that in this end-game
pawn in order to ensure conversion. White carries out a double attack
If the pawn has not yet crossed the (in the form of two threats), and the
middle line, then the strategy is to task of the second player consists in
advance the king first and then the parrying it, In this way the double
pawn. This means that the stronger attack constitutes the essential tacti¬
player's king must first penetrate cal element of this elementary end¬
into the hostile territory, while the game.
weaker king should try to prevent The double attack as a combination
this. of various threats forms the basis of
Let us follow this duel of the kings. the game in many other, more diffi¬
cult end-games with pawns.
Let us consider a famous study as
an example.

100
R. Reti, 1922 about to create the threat of sup¬
porting its pawn. Hence it is easy to
u nderstand that by moving to
square g7 the king creates two
threats of the second order. It is
showing signs of creating two dif¬
ferent threats, i. e. to support his
pawn and to stop the hostile pawn.
If Black answers with 1 ... h4 then
the respective quadrangles of
Black’s pawns shift to
el—e4—h4—hi, dl— d5—h5—hi
and cl—c6—h6—hi. After 2 {£>f6
Draw
the king is already threatening to
give its pawn immediate support
Let us try solving this problem only and at the same time making ar¬
with the aid of the terms “attack” rangements of creating the threat of
and “threat”. stopping the opponent’s pawn. If
White’s pawn is two moves from the Black wants to parry the immediate
queen ing'rank, but Black’s king is threat he has to continue with 2 ...
in its quadrangle and is threatening <£>b6. Again the squares of the pawn
to attack it. At first glance White’s on c6 shift, because the king can
king is hopelessly far behind Black’s only support it from squares d6 and
pawn and unable to support his own d7. White plays 3 ^eS, again with
pawn. oiV O , two objectives in view. He creates
But let us analyse the Bfaek king’s the two direct threats of supporting
interrelations with the two pawns. his pawn and of stopping his oppo¬
The king could obviously intercept nent’s pawn. Black has no defence
the pawn if it could get to the qua¬ to counter them. After 3 ... h3 4
drangle dl—d5—h5—hi. This <£>d6 h2 5 c7 the game ends with a
means that the king could threaten draw.
to stop the pawn if it were in the As you see there is nothing super¬
quadrangle cl—c6—h6—hi; which natural in this study. It complies
means that as soon as it enters the with the inherent logic of chess and
quadrangle bl —b7—hZ—h 1 the its solution rests on the repeated ap¬
king can threaten to stop the pawn. plication of the double attack.
Now let us analyse the White king’s
interrelations with its pawn. The
king could support its pawn from It can be demonstrated that the
squares e8—e7—e6—e5, and from method of triangular movement so
squares f8—f7—f6—f5 it would common in the end-game with
threaten to do so. And finally from pawns is a special case of the double
squares g8—g7—g6—g5 it would be attack.

101
White has two threats, i. e. that of White to play and win
queening one pawn and that of
penetrating to b6. But for the time
White must capture the pawn on a7,
being Black is able to refute them
If he tries to accomplish this in a
successfully, because I £&c5 is fol¬
straightforward manner by pro¬
lowed by 1 . .. d&c7 but 1 d?d5 by
ceeding along the straight line
1 . ..<2?c8 2&d6<£d8.Inthese
f7~a7, the game ends in a draw: 1
circumstances White makes await¬
&e7 (Sc3 2 C&d7 &d4 3 <&c7 <&c5
ing move: I C£*c4. He retains the op¬
4 &b7 <&d6 5 <£> X a7 &c7.
tion of making either threat. But we
White’s objective is to stage a
realize at this point that pinned
double attack, combining the threat
against the edge of the board, the
of capturing the pawn with that of
Black king itself is forced to upset
not letting Black’s king come near.
the equilibrium. After 1 . , . ©c8 2
This is achieved by the following
£&d5 or 1 ... <&c7 2 &c5 White
series of manoeuvres by the king 1
succeeds in pressing home a threat.
dfre6 &c3 2 dfrdS! &b4 3 &c6 &a5
By its nature a double attack is also 4 <$>b7 <&b5 5 X a7 &c6 6 &b8,
a characteristic method of pushing and Black’s king arrives too late.
the king to the edge of the board in
Hence, the conclusion to be drawn
the end-game with pawns.
is that the double attack as a combi¬
The following example shows how
nation of various threats is an essen¬
to go about it.
tial tactical method, which is very
often used in end-games with
pawns.
The double attack also plays an im¬
portant part in end-games with
knights, primarily because the de¬
coy as a tactical method is a funda¬
mental technique used in this end-
game in order to achieve pawn su¬ Without the king’s help but with the
periority. help of the fork, the knight defends
itself successfully against the king
and the pawn:

1 £cl+ <2}b2 2 £ld3+ &c2 3

£b4+ (£?b3 4 £ld3!

Black’s king has managed to push

the knight aside. But despite the fact
that the knight dodges to the side, it
checks the black pawn’s advance by
threatening to mount a double at¬
tack by 5 £lcl -1-. Hence a draw.
White to play Occasionally the knight manages to
catch up with the pawn with the aid
After 1 t£?e6 £lb4 2 d7 7 it of the double attack.
would be a mistake to play 3 (£?e7
because of 3 ... £ld5 +. The cor¬
rect move is 3 £) a6 + !, which de¬
coys the knight, so that after 3 . ..
x a6 4 (£?e7 the pawn can queen.
Another reason why the double at¬
tack is so important in this end¬
game is that the knight fork be¬
comes a particularly effective wea¬
pon at this stage of the game.

A. PhilidoT, 1777

Black can play 1 ... £lb3 2 b7

£lc5! Black carries out a double at¬
tack (i. e. an attack and the threat of
a two-fold attack: 3 b8(t&) £la6 +)
and saves himself.

The following study is an excellent

example of a double attack in an
end-game with a knight.

White to play

103
V Chekhover> 1938 From an analysis by A. Alekhine, 1934

Alekhine sees this as a draw and uses

Squares marked with a cross are the following variant to prove it:
squares which result in the loss of a 1 . . . Oe2 2 f4 Oe3 3 f5 Oe4 4 f6
pawn if Black’s king steps on them. Oe5 5 b5. You will notice that the
White’s forces are separated, but thrust 5 b5 is basically a double at¬
Black is unable to take advantage of tack because both pawns are threat¬
this because the area around the ening to queen. But Black has an
Black king is “mined”. It may not propriate answer: He plays 5 ,..
step on the c-file or on squares b3 or e6! thereby invalidating White’s
b5. If Black should, e. g. play 1 ... double attackby turning thetables on
Ob3then2 £le4 f5 3 £)g3 f4 4 him. The bishop takes over the task
£) e2 f3 5 £) d4 + and the f-pawn is of checking the f-pawn and the king
lost. For this reason Black cannot just manages to cope with the task
win despite his superior force. of preventing the advance of the fa-
pawn. A draw is inevitable after 6 b6
In end-games with bishops, espe¬
Od7 7 Ob5 Oc8 8 Oa6 Ob 8.
cially when two pawns are pitted
against a bishop, the whole game
L. Centurini, 1847
very often hinges on the double at¬
tack, namely on the combination of
two queening threats. And con¬
versely, the defence against these
two threats is based on the correct
assignment of tasks to the king and
the bishop.

104
In this position, too, the first F. Sackman> 1909
player’s strategy is based on two
threats, i. e. on the double attack.
On the one hand White threatens to
interpose the bishop on c7 and, on
the other hand, to move it over a7
and b8 and from there to drive
Black’s bishop off the diagonal
h2—b8. Events can then take the
following course:

1 &h4&b5!2 &f2<£a6!

Black’s king tries to repulse both

White to play and win
threats.

3&c5!. .. White manages to queen thanks to

a double attack.
We shall see presently that the en¬
tire secret lies in this waiting move. 1 &c8!. . .
3 ...&f4 White already threatens a double
attack by 2 e7. The bishop has to
The bishop is forced to leave its
move aside, since an end-game with
hideout.
pawns is hopeless for Black.
4 &e7 &b5 5 &d8 <&c6
1 . . . &fl 2e7 &b5 3c4+!. . .
Black’s king has returned in time,
This first double attack forces the
but it is powerless against the decoy
king to take the pawn.
attack which immediately decides
the game. 3 .. . <&Xc4 4&a6!

6*g5!... And the second double attack de¬

cides the game because the pawn
In this manner White succeeds in
cannot be stopped.
bringing his bishop to a7 with the
aid of a double attack (attack plus It is easy to see that in a confronta¬
queening threat). tion between a knight and a bishop,
a double attack is a very effective
6 . . . &h2 7 &e3 <£b5 8 &a7 <£a6
method. In the chapter devoted to
9 &b8 Agl 10 &g3 7 11 &f2,
the fork we have given a number of
and White is winning.
examples which you can review.
Here you will be acquainted with a
model in which a game centred on
the pawn is dominated by the
double attack.

105
H. Mattison, 1914 now comes the second and this time
decisive fork:

8 £ld7 + (&a7 9 £l x c5, and Black

can lay down his arms.

The role played by the double at¬

tack in tournaments has been illus¬
trated by numerous examples (cf.
diagrams 43, 76,98, 112, 115,145,
154, 157). Let us consider two
more.

Em. Lasker, 1890

Black threatens to achieve an imme¬

diate draw by 1 ... &f3 or 1 ...
£ke2. That is why with his first
move, in which he sacrifices a
pawn, White closes the important
diagonal.

Ic6!dc2a6&f3

For a draw Black has only to play

c6—c5, but...

3 £lg5! &d5 4£le6!... White to play and win

The first double attack. White

In this well-known study White
threatens both 5 £lc5, after which
succeeds in pushing back Black’s
the pawn passes, and the fork 5
king and eliminating his pawn by a
£lc7 +. Black must choose the
series of double attacks.
lesser of two evils.
1 &b7 Sb2 + 2(&a7...
4 . ..c5 5 £lc7 + &d7 5 £l x d5
&c8 This move merits attention. It con¬
tains two threats, i. e. that of queen¬
If 6 ... (2>c6, then White’s king en¬
ing and of forcing back the oppo¬
ters the c-pawn’s quadrangle by 7
nent’s king. Hence, basically it is a
(2)g3. That is why Black tries to at¬
double attack.
tack the White pawn as quickly as
possible. 2 .. . 2 c2 3 S h5 + (the threat is
carried out) 3 ... Cba4 4 (2>b7
7 £lb6 + CDb8
Sb2+ 5 d6a6! (another double at¬
There is no alternative, because tack) 5 ... Sc2 6 Sh4+ &a37
otherwise White plays 8 a7. But £bb6 S b2 + (with 8 2 x h2 as an

106
imminent threat) 8 <&a5 Oc2 9 White plans to play 7 Be3 + in re¬
Sh3+ <&a2 10 S xh2!, and sponse to 6 ... el(l^f). But at this
White is winning. point there is an unforeseen devel¬
opment.
And here is an instructive example
taken from a tournament. 6 ...el(fi)+!!

White had to admit defeat. The cor¬

Galic— Vukcevic
rect continuation was 6 Od5!
Yugoslavia 1975
el(^£f) 7 0 X f5 and a drawn game.

What part does the double attack

play in the end-game with queens?
It can be demonstrated that in this
case, too, it is an effective weapon
which helps the stronger player to
hide his king from checks and to
promote his pawn.

Let us examine the following situa¬

tion, for example.

Black launches a double attack.

1 ...e3!

The rook is under attack and the

pawn threatens to queen. White
loses the game immediately if he
tries to parry the attack by 2 f4, be¬
cause this is followed by 2 ... e2 3
<£f2 0 e4 4 t£e 1 0 e8! and White
finds himself in Zugzwang. Hence,
White has no choice but to take the Black’s queen gives a series of
rook: checks. But White’s king is able to
2 S Xd4e23 Sd6 + ... find a safe haven by taking advan¬
tage of his opposite number’s post¬
White wants to lure Black’s king to ing and of a double attack, e. g.:
the e-file in order to threaten with a 1 . . . ^5fd5 + 2 (i?el! (checks on
double attack of his own. the e-file cannot be given because of
3 . ..<&f7 4 Sd7 + <&f6 5 Od6 + the double attack 3 &e2 +) 2 ...
<&e7 6 Od3... «Hl + (2 ...&a5+ 3<&fl
^5fb5 + is again followed by a
AH this seems very logical, because double attack by 4 l^fe2 +) 3 (i?f2

107
&h2+ 4 &g2! and the pawn pro¬
ceeds to queen because 4 .. .
& h4 + is followed by a discovered
check.

Ma roczy—Betbede r
Hamburg 1930

White to play and win

After 1 &b4! Black’s queen can

make the following moves on the
diagonal a8—hi:

a) 1 ... t&rd5 (or 1 ... &f3) 2

White to play &a4 + &b6 3 &b3 +! tfiSr x b3 4
b8(&) + ;
1 a6 TCfiSfal + 2 &b5 <SSfb2 + 3 &c6
b) 1 ...&g2 2&a3+ &b6 3
&f6+ 4 dD>c7!. ..
&b2 + !’&xb2 4b8(&) + ;
White sacrifices a pawn, but after c) 1 ... tSarhl 2&a3 + &b6 3
4 . . . & x a6 5 &d7 + and 6 &b2 + &c7 (3 .. . &a6 4 &a2 +
^Sfd6 4- he exchanges the queens &b6 5 K&rbl + !) 4 &h2 + ! tSar x h2
thanks to a double attack and wins 5b8(&) + .
the end-game.
In conclusion an end-game in
4 .. . &c3+ 5&c6i££5re3 6&c8! which a rook is fighting against a
and Black resigned. If Black plays bishop. In such positions a victory is
6 .. .&f7, White has no trouble the exception rather than the rule.
deciding the issue by 7 a7! & x a7 8 But if a victory is to be achieved it is
&d7 + . only by means of a double attack.

The double attack is also the leit¬

motif of the following famous old
study.

108
/. Kling and B. Horwitz, 1851 after which the rook penetrates into
the 8th rank.

5 Be2 Ad6 6 Be8+ &f8 7 Bd8

and mate on the next move.

You have seen for yourself that the

role of the double attack in the end¬
game is not less important than in
the middle game, even if it is often
focused not on direct attacks but on
various threats of which queening is
the main one.

White threatens a double attack by Studies

1 B d7 in which the bishop is at¬ of double attacks
tacked and at the same time a mate
is threatened on d8. If the bishop The double attack in the broadest
moves to b6 to counter the threats. sense of the word occurs most fre¬
White mounts the decisive double quently in studies. At a time when
attack 2 B b7. After 2 .. . &c5 3 chess theoreticians still regarded
Bb8 + ^ f8 the rook makes a wait¬ this device as one of many elements
ing move on the 8th rank and Black of tactics, thereby underestimating
loses the game. its versatility and significance in tac¬
Hence, the only continuation is tical operations, master problemists
1 ... J^gl! In this manner Black had long been aware of the major
tries to elude the double attack by role played by the double attack
finding his bishop behind the White and paid due tribute to it in their
king. Now White must try to smoke works.
the bishop out of his hideout. This On the pages of this book you have
can be done as follows: examined numerous examples of
2 Bfl &h2 3 Bf2&g3 4 Bg2! games that were more or less con¬
&e5 nected with double attacks. Now
we should like to acquaint you with
The bishop has to leave its safe posi¬ some outstanding works of art that
tion, because if 4 . . . £^h4 then 5 are entirely in the realm of the
(!?h5 -I- (again a double attack). On double attack. These studies also
the other hand the decisive answer reflect the aesthetic side of this truly
to 4 . ,.^d6is5 Bd2^e7 6 Bc2, universal device.

109
A, Troitzky, 1913 2 ... S b5 is decisively countered
by 3 £le6 + and 4 £ld6 + .

2 ... Ed5

Black’s rook threatens to flee to d3.

3 £le6+ £t>e4 4 £t>g4! h5+ 5 £t>h4

Black is in Zugzwang- Any move

with the king or with the rook (ex¬
cept Sd 1) leads to a fork. The most
obstinate move is 5 . . . Sd 1, but
then the fork after 6 £lg5 + £t>f4 7
£l h3 + decides the game.

The following two studies show the

At first sight White’s chances of queen succumbing to a double at¬
winning appear dim, for to win he tack, but each game takes an en¬
has to capture the rook. But at this tirely different course.
stage the idea of capturing the rook
seems to be quite far-fetched. And H, Rinck, 1927
yet let us see what happens when
White plays

1 £)c4+ .. .
After this move the rook has every
reason to feel uncomfortable. This
is because the king has only one
square to which it can move without
immediate grave consequences, any
other move exposing it to a fork
from the knight.

1 ...&f4
White to play and win
The rook can now move almost to
any square on the 5th rank. But the The mechanism of double attack
next attack shows how limited its has already been prepared here and
freedom of movement is. all White has to do is set it in mo¬
tion, although for the time being
2fig7!...
Black’s queen is beyond the knight’s
At this point we realize that the “le~ reach. Despite this White’s task is to
bensraum” of Black’s rook is re¬ prepare a strike against the queen.
stricted to the square d5, for if it Let us try driving the queen to the
moves to f8, f6 or c5 White immedi¬ knight especially to prevent 1 . ..
ately forks it and 2 . .. Sf7 or l&fl +, which would result in an

HO
immediate draw as a result of per¬ L. Kubbel, 1935
petual check.

The queen has not got much of a

choice of squares it can move to. It
is lost if it moves to any square on
the c8—h3 diagonal. 1 ... i&b3 and
1 ... #d3 are worthless for the
same reason. No better is 1 ...
i&a3 or 1 ... i&c3 because of 2
£ x d4 + <£>a7 3 £b5 +. Hence,
out of 12 squares the queen has only
White to play and win
one it can move to without danger.

1 . . . #e3 It is not easy to predict that this is

the prelude to a double attack. Let
It seems Black can breathe a sigh of
us see how the situation develops.
relief. But this is not so.
1 fol+ <£>h7 2 #bl + ...
2 £ xd4+ <£>a7 3 Agl!...
The unfortunate posting of Black's
“What a nuisance these confounded
bishop and king enables White to
bishops are!” the queen might cry
improve his queen’s placing in a
out in despair. It managed to elude
series of stair-like steps, although it
one bishop, but there is no escape
is not very clear at first what White
from the other one.
is up to.
It is actually impossible to find a
safe square for the queen on an al¬ 2 ... &h8 3 #b2 + <£>h7 4 #c2 +
most empty board. In any case all &h8 5 #c3 + &h7 6 #d3 + <&h8
Black squares are taboo for the 7#h3+ &h7(7 .. ,#h7 8
queen, the transgression of which #c3 + and mate on next move) 8
results in an immediate loss. If it #c3+ &g8 9#c8!. . .
moves to d3, then White plays 4
Now we see what White’s plan was:
£lc6+ with an unavoidable fork.
His queen can now threaten a
Hence out of 19 squares the queen
double attack. His opponent’s
has only one to move to:
queen may not step on the black
3 ...#e8 squares, if it moves to f7, White
plays 10 Ah6 + with mate. But
But there, too, it falls prey to a
Black’s king can avoid the danger¬
double attack:
ous confrontation by
4^b5+ <£»b8 5 &h2+ &c8 6
9 . .. <£>f7
£d6 + .
But at this point it becomes appar-

111
ent that the move 9 ^c8 contained double attack: 2 fg(^) + x g8 3
a second threat, namely that of cap¬ £)e7 + .
turing the queen. White plays 10
2&a3' B Xa3 + 3 <£>b2...
£& c5!, after which the queen is
trapped. Again we see a double attack being
mounted threatening 4 f8(^i) +
and 4 <3? x a3. Black meets the sec¬
ond threat with a reply which is also
based on double attack.

3 ... Ba2+!
If 4 <£> x a2, then 4 . . . Ae6 + fol¬
lowed by 5 . . . & x f7. White’s
king tries to hide. But where?
4<£>cll...

If White had played 4 <£>c3? Black’s

saving move would have been 4 ...
Bc2+ ! leaving no escape for the
White to play and win king.
4 ... Sal + ! (4 . . . Bc2+ would
In Korolkov’s study, the entire have led to a quick defeat, for the
thrilling struggle based on double pawn cannot be stopped) 5 <^>d2
attacks is centered on the use of the Ba2+ 6<£>e3 Ba3+ 7 <£>f4
pawn. Ba4+ 8&g5...
1 f7 .. . The game seems to be over, but
Black launches a fresh counter-of¬
Already White’s first move is a
fensive, which is also based on
double attack, threatening to queen
double attack.
and in reply to 1 .. . B f6 he has the
threat of playing 2 £kb2 concealed 8 .. . Bg4+!9<£>h6(9<£>Xg4
up his sleeve. But Black replies in A X f5 + with a draw) 9 ... B g8
kind.
Through a titanic effort Black ma¬
1 .. . Ba6+! nages to mobilize his rook in the
struggle with the pawn. But its plac¬
This, too, is a double attack of a
ing is too weak to be effective, and
special kind. Black has two threats
White wastes no time in utilizing
in store, i. e. if 2 C$?b2 then 2 . ..
the situation to his advantage.
B f6 or if 2 (£>bl then 2 . ..
A x f5 + is possible. 10£le7!££e6i

The other defence by 1 . . . B g8 is Black puts up a desperate defence

doomed to failure because of the and parries the threat of 11 fg(^)
mate.

112
 11 fg(l^)+ A x g8 12 £)g6 mate. Now the bishop is fair game for the
rook.
The series of double attacks ex¬
changed between the two sides has 2 ng6 &d5!
produced an unexpected and un¬
Black has to be very cautious in
ique mating position.
choosing a safe square for the
Although perhaps not quite so'ex- bishop. Bad is 2 ...Af7or2 ...
citing, the following study leaves a Aa2 because of the immediate
lasting impression. Here the double attack. 2 . .. &c4 is just as
struggle flares up around a double unsatisfactory in view of the double
attack planned by White. attack by 3 2 c6, while 2 .,. .&b3
leads to the main version.

M. Havel, 1926 3 U g5 Ac4 4 Sg4 &b3 5 2 g3

&a2
At last the bishop has found “safe”
refuge at a2, having threaded a nar¬
row path to escape harassment by
the rook. But this has created favou¬
rable conditions for a double attack
on the a-file, and White immedi¬
ately exploits the opportunity.

6 Sf3!...

Now the second bishop is forced to

follow no less narrow path.

6 . . . &e7 7 Se3&d6 8 Sd3 &b4

The start of the contest seems to 9 2 d4, and White has succeeded
herald no great events. To prevent after all in forcing his opponent into
Black from moving his bishop from a position which leaves him open to
f8 and giving check, White plays: a double attack.
1 Af2. .. In accurate combination studies,
Since the bishop at g4 is attacked usually both sides use the double at¬
White must be prevented from play¬ tack and the one who “laughs last”
ing 2 S g8. Black has no choice but wins, i. e. the one who executes the
to play last double attack.

1 . . . &e6 Here are some characteristic exam¬

ples.

113
A. Troitzky, 1934 2 ... Sh2+ 3Ct»g4! S xhl

Black has carried out his double at¬

tack and achieved a balance of for¬
ces which promises to end in a
draw. But in the course of the game,
White himself has set the mechan¬
ism of double attack (in the present
case it is the discovered check) in
motion. He uses it in order to pre¬
pare another form of double attack,
which is sometimes referred to as
discovered attack.

4&gl + !C£>c7 5 Sbl CDd7

The game starts with a position in Black’s king may move only on
which White has to ward off a white squares, otherwise the rook is
double attack, with the bishop lost when the bishop moves. With
hanging and 1 . .. Sh2 + being his next move, White forces the
threatened. If he tries to bring the king to move to the queen’s side
bishop to safety by going 1 &d5, and drives it towards the edge.
Black presses home the attack by 6 Sell Ct>c67 Sdl Ct>b5 8 Scl
playing \ ... £)d6 2 Se5 £ic4! &a4 9 Sbl &a3 10&c5+ or
and the game ends in a draw. This 9 .. . <2?a5 10&b6+ and wins.
leaves White no choice but to give
check.
A. Zeletski, 1931
1 Sb5+ ...

Black’s king may not step aside be¬

cause 1 ... d?a7 2 Sa5 + &b8 3
S a8 mate, but Black finds a brilli¬
ant solution.

1 ...£b6!

With a view to continuing with

2 .., C£>c8 after 2 § x b6 + after
which the joss of a bishop is un¬
avoidable.

2 a Xb6...

Black gets a breather and is appar¬ In this explosive situation White has
ently able to take the bishop with already made preparations for a
impunity. double attack (his opponent’s

114
bishop and knight are hanging), but We shall soon see that he has an¬
the knight fork at d2 prevents the other double attack up his sleeve.
rook taking the bishop. This threat
7 S xg6+ d?h7
still needs some preparation.
Now it is White who faces a prob¬
I&g2 Ad3 2 Bdi...
lem. How can he find a way out of
Black’s situation is critical 2 , .. the situation which has arisen?The
Ac2 is followed by 3 23 d8 and if best way is by a double attack.
3 ... Aa7 then 4 &f3 £d2+ 5
8 23 e6!. ..
23 x d2 & x g6 6 Sg2 + with a de¬
cisive double attack. Black must de¬ We shall soon see that this ts an ex¬
fend himself against the threatened tremely important move. This is
4 (£}f3 by 3 . ., & f4, but this is fol¬ precisely the point from which the
lowed by 4 23d5 4- d?g4 (4 . .. rook can fulfil its last mission.
£t>h4 5 (t?f3 again with a double at¬
tack), and a-surprising mate by 5
8 ... &g3+ 9&e2i&xh8
A h5 + (t?h4 6 £lg6. But Black has
a very effective reply, which is also
based on double attack.

2 . ,.£f2!3&xf2 Aa7 + !4
Ct?el! (as we shall presently see, el
is the only square left for the king).

4 . . . A x g6

The first skirmish ended in Black’s

favour. But the next double attack,
which threatens the next, brings
Black to the brink of defeat.
At last Black breathes a sigh of re¬
5 23 d7 £b8 lief, for a draw seems to be in sight.
But White’s next move restores or¬
Here the posting of White’s king
der.
plays a role. If he stood at e2, Black
could save himself by playing 5 ... 10 d?f3! and the issue is decided,
&h5+. for the only squares the bishop can
move to, i. e. h2, h4, c7 and b8, are
6 Sg7&h6!
all open to double attacks leading to
But Black’s courage is not broken. the loss of the bishop.

115
G, Ka$paryan> 1950 5 ... &d7!6 Sc7 Sd5

Black has managed to save two of

White is in a precarious situation.
his threatened pieces, but White
His knight is threatened and cannot
wastes no time before mounting the
move anywhere. If he moves to d8,
next double attack.
Black makes a double attack by the
bishop from e7; if it moves to d6 a 7&e4!&b6 8 Bb7 Bd6 9&e5!
double attack on c5 follows. The at¬ &c5 10 Sc7 &b4 11 Sb7 &a3 12
tempt to convert the passed pawn is Sa7 Bd3 (or 12 ... Be6 + 13
also doomed to failure: 1 <£>f6 <£>d5 Sd6 + 14 &e5 etc.) 13 &e4
B x b7 2 B x b7 a x b7 3 e7 Ac5
0b2 + f 4 <&e6 &c6 5 &f7 Ad5 +
Black’s attempt to launch a double
6 <&f8 &g7+ 7 &e8 &e6 8 <&d8
attack of his own fails: 13 ...
f6> and Black wins.
B xe3+ 14 C£>d4! draw.
So what can White do? He tries a
double attack: 14 Bc7&b6 15 Bb7 Bd6 (15 ...
B xe3+ 16<&f4!) 16&e5*and
1 £d6 &c5 2e7! B Xe7 3 £lf5!
eveiything starts all over again.
A xf5
Since the throng of White and
Black is two bishops up, but White’s Black pieces can go on moving back
next move conjures up a double at¬ and forth perpetually, the game is
tack. considered drawn.

4 Sc6! Se5 5&f4... This study is truly an “ode to the

double attack”. Somewhat later
Now it is Black who is in trouble.
Korolkov took Kaspaiyan’s idea a
Three of his pieces are threatened,
little further and created a study in
and if he goes 5 ... B d5, then
which the stronger side succeeds,
White replies with 6 e4 and ends the
under similar circumstances, in
game with an immediate draw.
breaking the double attack dead¬
Thus, his only hope is a counterat¬
lock.
tack.
 V, Korolkov, 1953/54 double attack or at least the threat
of one occurs almost in every game.
We have picked eight games in
which the double attack either de¬
cided the game or was its leitmotif,
in order to illustrate how situations
connected with double attacks de¬
velop.
We shall try to analyse the motives
of double attacks with a view to
fathoming those mysterious forces
which engender them.

Queen's Gambit
White’s bishop and rook are under Rubinstein—Snosko-Borovski
attack, and if he loses one of these Petersburg 1909
pieces his prospects are bleak. Only 1 d2—d4 d7—d5
a counterattack can save him. 2 c2—c4 e7—e6
1 &b4 0b3 3 £)bl—c3 £)g8—f6
4 Acl-g5 &f8-e7
As in the preceding study, the rook 5 e2-e3 £lb8—d7
moves aside keeping an eye on the 6 £)gl—f3 0-0
two bishops. 7<&dl-c2
2 Sd4e5 Rubinstein’s favourite move at this
Worse is 2 ... cS 3 A aS + <£>d7 4 point. He still has the choice of cast¬
&c2 0a3 5 0a4, and retains his ling either short or long.
piece advantage. 7 ... b7—b6
3 &c2 0b2 4 Oc4d5 5 Aa3 Sa26 According to modern theory, the
0c3d47 Abl Qal 8 0b3 most energetic way of disrupting
As you can see, White has suc¬ White’s build-up is by going 7 ...
ceeded in asserting his material ad¬ c5, disregarding the disadvantage
vantage. Victory is only a question of having a Black pawn at d5. After
of time. the text move, White realizes a plan
which is connected with long cast¬
ling and an attack on the king’s
side.
Sample games
8 c4 x d5 e6 X d5
We have convinced ourselves of the 9 Afl-d3 Ac8—b7
importance of double attacks. It is 100-0-0
no exaggeration to say that a In a game between Alekhine and

117
Yates played in Hamburg a year la¬ 14 £c3xe4 f5 xe4
ter, an even stronger move 10 h4
was played, preventing the relief
move 10 ... £)e4.

10 .. . £)f6—e4
11 h2~h4 f7-f5
12&cl~bl c7-c5?

15&d3xe4!

Let’s get down to brass tacks. By

sacrificing the bishop, White
creates the basis for a double attack
along the opening diagonal. As you
will soon realize, all this required
Already Black’s 11th move seems
extensive and exact calculation,
rather dubious (better is the quiet
move 11 ... Se8), but his 12th 15 ... d5xe4
move is an outright mistake, which 16 K^fc2—b3+ &g8~h8
in the given position creates condi¬ 17 *^fb3 X b7 e4xf3
tions for White to launch a double
Black pins all his hopes on this
attack. Rubinstein makes masterly
pawn.
use of the opportunity created by
these conditions, namely the open¬ 18 Sdl xd7
ing of the diagonals.
Another double attack, this time on
13d4xc5 b6xc5 the bishop and the queen.

At this point we realise the strength 18 ... ^d8-e8

of White’s 12th move. If the White 19Sd7xe7 ^e8-g6 +
king were still at cl, then Black 20&bl~al Sa8-b8
could play 13 .,. £)d X c5, because 21 t^b7—e4 ^g6xe4
14 £) x d5 is worthless, because of 22 S e7 x e4 f3xg2
14 ... £) x d3 +. But now the reply 23 Shi—gl Sf8xf2
to 13 ... d x c5 is 14 £l x d5!
The first impression is that by his
^ X d5 15 ^c4 and White wins.
sacrifice Black is able to stage a
The ability to foresee such nice
dangerous counterattack, because
points is an indispensable attribute
his pawn at g2 looks very threaten¬
of the good chess-player.
ing and on top of that pawn b2 is

118
hanging. But White has calculated short on the 8th move, the knight
everything down to the last detail, move to a5 being made after 9 h3.
and his next move clarifies the situa¬
9 &b3-c2 c7~c5
tion.
10 d2—d4 &d8—c7
24 Se4-f41 ll£bl-d2 £)a5—c6
12&d2-fl
This is how easily White fends off
the threats, for if 25 ... 3 b X b2 This move, which was earlier used
(or 25 ... Sfxb2),then26 Sf8 + by Lasker, was very popular in
0 x f8 27 & x b2 with an easily those days. Today White usually
won end-game. plays 12 dc (Rauser) or 12 d5. As
shown by the game played by Geller
24 . . . Bf2—c2
and Mecking (Interzonal Tourna¬
25 b2-b3 h7—h6
ment, Palma de Mallorca 1970),
26 &g5-e7 Sb8-e8
Black gets a difficult game also in
27 &al-bl!
the latter case.
The last fine point, which had to be
12 ... c5 x d4
anticipated well in advance.
13c3xd4 S&c8—g4
27 .. . B c2—e2
Blacks position is by no means bad
28 £&e7 x c5 Be8-d8
even if he plays 13 ...ed.
29&c5-d4 Sd8—c8
30 Sf4-g4 14d4—d5 £lc6—d4
!5&c2-d3 0-0
This final double attack ends the
fight. Black resigned. 15 ... £h5! 16 &e3 £ xf3 + 17
gf S&d7 would have been more in
Spanish Opening keeping with the spirit of this game.
Capablanca-Dm-Khotimirski
16&cl-e3 Ba8~c8
Petersburg 1913
And here it would have been better
1 e2—e4 e7—e5
to move the other rook to this
2 £)gl—f3 £)b8—c6
square.
3 &fl-b5 a7—a6
4 &b5-a4 £)g8—f6 17&e3xd4 e5 x d4
5 0-0 &f8-e7 18a2~a4'
6 Bfl-el b7-b5
White immediately attacks his op¬
7 &a4-b3 d7-d6
ponent’s pawns.
It is interesting to note that the var¬
18 ... &c7~b6
iant played here is in keeping with
19a4xb5 a6xb5
the latest modern theory.
20 h2—h3 &g4xf3
8 c2—c3 £lc6—a5
White now gets a permanent advan-
Nowadays Black usually castles

119
tage in view of the weak pawns at over the role of blockbuster and de¬
b5 and 64. How should Black have stroys the Black king's fortress.
continued? Bad was of course
26 e5-~e6 Oc8-f8
20 ... &h5 because of 21 g4, but
by 20 ... &d7! he would have kept If 26 .. . fethen27&g4.
his two bishops and would have had
27£fl~g3!
good prospects of countering, be¬
cause if 21 £)g3 with the threat 22 Capablanca’s attack is very forceful
^fl, then 21 ...&e8 22 &fl Af6 indeed. To 27 ... fe he intended to
23 £h5 &e5. reply with 28 l^fg4 e5 29 & x g6!

21&dlxf3 27 ... &b6~b7

Black transposes his knight to c5

and clears square f6 for the bishop.

22 Sel—cl! &d7-c5
23 b2—b4 £lc5-a4?

He suspects no evil designs. He

should have exchanged at d3 and
then played his bishop to f6.

24 Ocl x c8 Of8xc8

28£g3-f5!

The sacrifice cannot be accepted

because of the inevitable mate after
29 & x f5. With the aid of the
double attack White also throws his
knight into the attack. What can
Black do? He is threatened with 29
£) h6 4- and 30 £l x f7 and with loss
of material.

28 ... f7xe6
Please take a close look at this posi¬
tion. The Black rook is not covered, A natural move to prevent the pawn
and this circumstance enables from being threatened. But this
White to mount a tactical operation move enables White quickly to de¬
in the form of a double attack. cide the battle in his favour by open¬
ing a file. The most tenacious move
25 e4—e5! g7~g6
would have been 28 ...^h8 in or¬
Although Black has parried the der to deprive White of the oppor¬
threatened 26 i£&f5, the pawn takes tunity of giving check.

120
 29d5xe6! 4^3f3xd4 £g8-f6
5 £)bl-c3 d7—d6
Another surprise in the form of a
6^fl—c4
double attack! To 29 . . . x f3
White replies with 30 £) x e7 +, White’s bishop has obvious inten¬
and White captures a piece. tions regarding square f7. Fora
29 ... &b7~c7 long time it was believed that Black
could easily neutralize it by e7—e6.
But in the fifties it was discovered
that White can maintain the
bishop’s attacking momentum by
the thrust f2—f4—f5, especially if
this plan is accompanied by long
castling.

6 ... e7—e6
7 0-0

Today, one usually plays 7 i&e3, 8

^fe2, followed by long castling.

If Black had played 29 ... 7, 7 ... a7-a6

then things would have been easy 8 &cl-e3 &d8-c7
for White: 30 £h6+ &g7 31 £)f7, 9 &c4-b3 ^f8-e7
threatening capture at b5 and 32 10f2~f4 £lc6-a5
^ff4 with a telling attack. lll&dl—f3 b7-b5

30&f3-c6! This is how—until this game—this

variant was frequently played,
Still another double attack, the last
White’s next move usually being 12
one in this game.
f5> which achieved nothing. For this
30 ... I&c7-d8 reason the entire system was re¬
3l£)f5xe7 + &d8xe7 garded as harmless for Black.
32&d3xb5 £a4~c3
12 e4—e5!
33&c6-d7 &e7xd7
34&b5xd7,and White won In those days this was a novel idea:
quickly. White offers a pawn sacrifice.

12 ... &c8-b7
Sicilian Defence 13&f3-g3 d6 x e5
Averbakh—Taimanov I4f4xe5 £f6—h5
Zurich 1953 15&g3-h3
1 e2—e4 c7-c5 White certainly did not sacrifice the
2£gl-f3 £b8-c6 pawn in order to win a piece by 15
3d2—d4 c5xd4 ^f20—0! 16 g4, because in this

121
case it is possible to play 16 ...
£) xb3 17ab& Xe5 18gh& xh5t
and Black has a strong attack going.

15 ... &e7xe5

An instructive position of a double

attack has developed. Two things
are threatened by White: first, to
recapture the piece by 18 it x h5 +
^5lxh5 19£lxg7 + , and secondly,
if the knight dodges to f6, to cap¬
ture the queen by 18 &f4. If Black
The first and at the same time deci¬
covers the knight by 17 . .. g6, then
sive mistake. Analyses have proved
18 &d4 decides the issue. There is
that it is correct to play 15...
no satisfactory defence in sight for
£l x b3 16 £) x b3 and only then
Black.
J6 ... x e5. If White plays 17
£)a5, Black can afford to get in¬ 17 . , . &b7-c8
volved in complications which are 18&h3xh5 + &e5xh5
not devoid of advantage for him, I9£)e6xg7+ &e8-d7
i. e. 17 .. .b4! 18 £)c4 &c7! 19 20£)g7xh5
& x h5 0-0.
The two-pawn superiority is of
16&b3xe6! course entirely sufficient for a win,
but Black cannot make up his mind
The bishop, which was exposed for
to give up and continues the game
such a long time to the danger of
to the bitter end.
being taken* now offers itself to be
taken. Black has to take it, because 20 ... £la5-c4
if 16 ... 0—0 then 17 0 f5, a very 21 &e3~d4 Oh8-g8
unpleasant prospect, especially 22£lc3—d5 Sg8-g5
since 17 .. . £lf4 is doomed to fai¬ 23£lh5-f6-l- &e7xf6
lure due to loss of a piece after 18 24£ld5xf6+ &d7~c6
B xe5 £) xh3 + 19 &xb3. 25£lf6xh7 Sg5-g6
26 Sal-el b5-b4
16 ... f7 x e6
27b2~b3 £lc4—a3
17£ld4xe6
28 Sel-e5 £la3-b5
29&d4-e3 £lb5-c3
30£)h7-f8

122
 White’s pieces have taken up active Euwe mistakenly played 10 b4 and
positions. The final offensive be- after 10 .., d4 ! found himself in
gins. difficulties, because after 11 £)a4
30 ... came the effective 11 ...de!12
Sg6-g7
31 Sfl-f6 + i£>xd8(!2£|xc5?ef+ 13 &e2
d?c6—c7
32 Ae3-h6 Ag4 + ) 12 ... ef+ 13&e2
Sg7-g4
33 Se5~e7 + Ag4 + . Black wins because White’s
&c7-d8
34 Se7~h7 king has to move to the d-file fol¬
Sa8-b8
35 £)f8—e6 + lowed by check and capture of the
Ac8 x e6
queen.
36 Sf6—f8 mate.
10 . . . £lb8-c6
11 0—0 Ac8—e6
Nimzowitch Indian Defence 12£)c3—e2 Ac5-d6
Uhtma n n —A verbakb 13 £)e2—d4
Dresden 1956
White does not try to exploit the
1 d2—d4 £lg8—f6 weakness of the pawn at d5 and his
2 c2—c4 e7—e6 play is somewhat weaker. To 13
3 £bl-c3 Af8-b4 Ad2, Black could have replied
4 e2—e3 0-0 13 ... £)e4! and chances would
5 £lgl— e2 have been nearly equal.

This is hardly better than playing 13 ... £lc6 x d4

the knight to f3, but as a rule it leads 14e3xd4 Sf8— e8
to variations that have not been so The attempt to go over to the offen¬
well explored. sive without delay does not pay:
5 ... d7-d5 14 .. .£g4 15 h3 £ xf2 16
6 a2—a3 Ab4-e7 Sxf2!(16&xf2^h4 17i&f3f5!
7 c4xd5 e6 xd5 with a strong attack) 16 .,, A x g3
17 Axh7+ &xh7 18^d3 +
After 7 ... £) x d5 White can con- with a double attack on h7 and g3.
tinue by going 8 g3, after which his
I5£lg3—f5 Ae6xf5
opponent will have a hard time
16 Ad3 xf5 T^d8-b6!
proving that his position is not
worse. Black has overtaken his opponent in
development and now plans to play
8£)e2—g3 c7—c5!
on both flanks.
This move, which occurred already 17 b2—b3 g7—g6
in the 25th game between Euwe and 18 Af5—h3
Alekhine in 1937, is the best way to
restore equilibrium. White plans to play g2—g3 in order
to bring his bishop to g2. In this
9d4xc5 Ae7xc5 manner he protects the K-side and
10fifl-d3 trains his sights ond5.

123
18 ... df6—e4 I&xd5and32 . ..£)xdl)30 ...
19&dl-d3 &d6—e7 Se2! and Black wins.

The bishop takes up and influential 29 ... Be7-e2

position. 30 adl-fl Be8-e3

20g2~g3 &e7—f6
21 &cl-e3 Be8-e7
22 Bal-cl Ba8-e8
23 Sfl—dl

Black has the initiative, his forces

are concentrated in the centre.

23 .. . &b6-d6
24&h3-g2l

White is cautious. If 24 b4 then

24 ... Cl x g3! 25 hg B x e3 26 fe
& x g3 + 27 &g2 &g5, with a very-
dangerous attack for the sacrificed Black sacrifices a rook. White ac¬
rook. cepts the sacrifice assuming that this
will lead to a draw. But the strongest
24 ... h7~h5
reply would have been 31 Bc3!
Black intensifies pressure on the K- b6 32 &xa6 B x c3 33 & x e2
side. If 24 ... & x a3 then White O xh3+ 34 A xh3 B xh3 35
would have reacted wkh 25 A x e4! i&e5, and White has a fighting
de (25 ... B xe4 26 Bc5 Od8 27 chance.
Bxd5Bxd5 28&xe4&xb3
31f2xe3 Be2 x g2+ !
29 Obi &C4 30 0 x b7) 26 &c4
i&d6 27 d5, with very promising By no means 31 ... &g3 because
play. of 32 & x d5.
Very weak would also have been
25 &d3-b5 a7—a6
31 ...£xh3 + 32&hl Bxg2
26&b5-a5 h 5—h4
because of 33 Bc8 + (t?g7 34
27 g3-g4
B xf7+!&xf7(34 ... d?h6 35
After 27 &f4 t£fe6 28 &e5 h3 Black x g2 i&g3 + 36 (Sfl, and White
would have had an attacking posi¬ wins) 35 &c7+ &xc7 36
tion. B xc7+ and 37 & x g2.
27 ... &f6—g5 32 (£>gl x g2 i^fd6—g3 +
28Ae3xg5 £)e4xg5
33 (2?g2—hi &g3xh3 +
29 h2-h3 34&hl-gl &h3xe3+!
If 29 x d5 then 29 ... £h3+ 30
An important fine point. Although
&fl (30&hl £) x f2 + 31&gl
it sounds unlikely, Black manages

124
to capture both of his opponent’s Griin/eld Indian Defence
rooks. D, Byrne—Fischer
New York 1956
35&gl—hi
1 £)gi—f3 £)g8—f6
White cannot save the situation
2 c2—c4 g7“g&
even if he goes 35 0f2 because of
3 £lbl—c3 &tS-g7
35 . . . £lh3+ 36 (i?hl £)xf2 +
4 d2~d4 0-0
37 &g2 h3 + 38 d?fl £)d3 with an
5 Acl-f4 d7-d5
irresistible mating attack.
As we shall soon see, this approach
35 ... i^fe3—h3 +
to the opening game is characteris¬
36&hl~gl I&h3-g3 +
tic of modern chess. For a certain
37&gl-hl £lg5-f3|
length of time the players conceal
Black now threatens to play 38 ... their true intentions. Only at this
)&h3 mate. White has to give up a point can it be said that they have
rook for a knight and is then faced decided in favour of the Griinfeld
with the inevitable loss of his second Indian Defence. Normally this posi¬
rook, being unable to prevent a tion occurs after 1 d4 £)f6 2 c4 g6 3
double attack. If for instance 38 £c3 d5 4 Of3 &g7 5 Af4 0-0.
Sc8+ &g7 39 0 x f3 then 39 ...
6^fdl-b3
& x f3 + 40 &h2 &g3 + 41 &hl
&h3 4- 42 &gl & x g4 + and In this way White covers the pawn
43 ...<2Jfxc8. and strengthens the pressure on the
centre. But as you know a queen
38^fa5~d8+ &g8-g7
that is sent into action too early in
39 Sfl x f3 ^fg3xf3 +
the game is very likely to become
40&hl-h2 #f3-f4 +
the target of attack itself.
41&h2-g2 ^f4Xg4 +
6 ... d5 x c4
White resigned. Black retains his su¬
7 #b3 x c4 c7—c6
periority after 42 £?}f2 l&f4 4- 43
8 e2—e4 Ob8-d7
&e2 & X cl 44 Ha x d5 #c2 + 45
&e3 )&c6 46 ^e5 4- lfiSflff6. This quiet development move is not
in keeping with the spirit of the de¬
fence chosen by Black. Black had to
try to exploit the bad posting of the
enemy queen in order to take over
the initiative by 8 ... b5 9 l^fb3
i^SraS and by the threat 10 ... b4.

9 Sal—dl £ld7—b6
101^fc4—c5 £&c8— g4
11 &f4-g5

125
 obliges White in his desire to mount
a double attack of his own.

14&g5xe7 \^fd8—b6!

A cold-blooded reply. If White ac¬

cepts the exchange sacrifice by 15
x f8 he faces a very vigorous at¬
tack after 15 ... & x f8 16 dlb3
£) x c3 17 Sd3 (17 dOT x c3?? &b4)
17 .. .«& xb3 18ab&b4.

15 526ft—c4
White would like to prevent
£H6—d7. But the text move is not Byrne just cannot face the fact that
only bad because it means loss of his young opponent has outplayed
time which could be used more him so masterfully. He tries to com¬
profitably for development, but also plicate the situation and soon finds
because it leads to an unsound dis¬ himself in a worse mess than before.
position of pieces. Master Byrne of
15... £e4xc3!
course did not consider all the con¬
sequences of his sortie, and he The boy shows no fear and calcu¬
could hardly have expected that the lates the complications with great
13-year-old youngster sitting oppo¬ ' precision. If 16 dl x c3 Sfe8 17
site would so elegantly exploit the & xf7+ (17dle3dlc7) 17 . . .
weak move by the bishop. x f7 18 £)g5 + , then 18 ...
&xe7!9 0~0 A xdl 20 a xdl
11 ... £b6—a4H
dlbS, and Black foils the attack.
A thunderbolt! This shows that the
16 c5 OfS— e8 +
future world champion already pos¬
17d&el-fl
sesses the incisive vision it takes to
detect weaknesses in the opponent’s
position. With this telling move he
put his opponent in a critical situa¬
tion. For the sake of a double attack
he temporarily sacrifices a piece,
which he recovers after 12 £l x a4
£ x e4 13 die 1 (13 dlb4 & x f3 14
gf x g5) 13 ... dla5 + emerging
with a material advantage.

12dlc5—a3 £la4xc3
13 b2 x c3 £f6xe4

Having carefully considered the White apparently awaits the

consequences Black seemingly knight’s retreat with satisfaction,

126
hoping for 17 ... £)b5 18 28 Shi—el Se8 x el
A x f7 + ! <£> x f7 19 &b3 + &e6 29 &b6-d8 + &g7—f8
20 £lg5 + . But he is in for a sur¬ 30£f3xel &c4-d5
prise. 31 £el—f3 £f2-e4
32 &d8-b8 b7—b5
17 ... <&g4-e6!!
33 h3-h4 h7—h5
Black sacrifices his queen. In later 34£)f3-e5 <^g8-g7
years experts would point out that 35 &h2~gl &f8-c5 +
one of Fischer’s tactics was to frus¬ 36 <£>gl-fl £le4—g3 +
trate his opponent’s plans by un¬ 37 <£>fl-el &c5-b4 +
predictable moves. As you see here 38 <^>el—dl &d5-b3 +
the American already possessed this 39 <£>dl-cl 43 g3—e2 +
valuable gift very early in life. 40 <£>cl-bl 43e2—c3 +
41 <^bl— cl Sa2—c2 mate.
18&c5xb6

Nothing better than this. If 18

Queen’s Gambit
A x e6 then 18 .. . &b5+! 19
Averbakh—Estrin
<£>gl £)e2 + 20<&fl £)g3+ 21
Moscow 1964
^gl l^ffl + followed by 22 ...
e2 mate. To 18 & x c3 Black had 1 c2—c4 £)g8-f6
planned to reply 18 ... ti&r x c5! 19 2 £)bl-c3 e7—e6
dc A x c3. 3 £)gl—f3 d7-d5
4d2—d4 &f8-b4
18 ... &e6 x c4 + 5 &cl-g5 d5 x c4
I9d?fl-gl £)c3-e2 +
Black chooses the aggressive
An instructive demonstration of the Vienna variant which was in vogue
effective use of discovered check. in the thirties.

20<2}gl—fl £)e2xd4 + 6 e2—e4 c7— c5

21 &fl-gl £)d4-e2 + 7^flxc4
22<£>gl-fl £)e2-c3 + At this point one usually first played
23<&fl-gl a7 xb6 7 e5 cd 8 &a4 + £)c6 9 0-0-0
24 i&a3—b4 Sa8—a4 A6.7 with a wild game ensuing, un¬
25&b4xb6 £)c3xdl til Simagin discovered that due to
the double attack on g5 and c3 after
The knight has done a thorough
7 A x c4 cd 8 £) x d4 i^fa5 it is ad¬
job; for his queen Black got one
visable to play 9 & x f6! & x c3 +
rook and two pieces. This superior¬
10bc& xc3 + 11 <£>fl! &xc4 +
ity is sufficient for a win in this posi¬
12 <3?gl, because the threat 13 Scl
tion. The quickest road to victory is
by a piece attack on the king. leaves Black no time to take the
piece at f6, while after 12 ...£)d7
26h2—h3 Sa4xa2 13 Scl &a6 14 A Xg7 Sg8 15 a4!
27<&gl-h2 £)dlxf2 White has good attacking chances.

127
 7 ... c5xd4 ing White’s queen and square f2.
8£)f3xd4 &d8-c7 But since there is no mating threat.
White simply disregards the threat.
Until this game this move was re¬
garded entirely satisfactory. After 9 12&c3xg7! Sh8-f8
&a4+ £)c6 10 £)xc6 A x c3 4- 13 Ag5—h6
11 be Ad7 Black indeed has a good
He continues playing in this spirit.
game.
13 ... &c5xf2 +
9&dl-b3!
14&cl-dl £b8—d7
Apparently White has overlooked 15 Shi—el £)e4—f6
the threatened double attack.
After 15 . .. £)ec5 White can play
9 ... Ab4xc3 4- either 16 £) c7 + , followed by 17
£) x a8, or 16 Ae3 ^rh4 17 Ag5
Relatively better is 9 ... al¬
&g4 + 18 Ae2 &a4 4- 19 b3, cap¬
though in this case, too. White gets
turing the queen.
a certain advantage by 10 A x f6 gf
11 0—0. Black pins all his hopes on 16 Ac4 x e6 &f2xb2
the impending double attack. 17 Oal-cl!
10&b3xc3 £)f6xe4 Black resigns. Nothing can save
him. 17 ... x b5 is followed by
the decisive 18 Ac4 4-, or 18
Axd7+ &xd7 19 Sc7 4* <&d8
20 x f8 4- and mate on next
move.

Tarrasch Defence
Averbakh—Platonov
AlmaAta 1969

1 c2—c4

This pawn move is seen frequently

White’s queen and bishop are under
at modern tournaments. But it hap¬
fire. The first impression is that
pens frequently that as soon as the
White will not be able to extricate
competitors have revealed their
himself without losing material. But
plans we see patterns emerging on
his momentous lead in development
the board which are other than the
with the weak points in his oppo¬
English opening. That is how it was
nent’s camp enable him to mount a
in this game, too.
counter double attack.
1 ... c7—c5
Il£)d4-b5! .^fc7-c3
2 £)gl— f3 £)b8— c6
Yet another double attack threaten¬ 3 e2—e3

128
White prefers the prosaic Queen’s c3~c4, but keeping his queen and
Gambit to the “romantic” Reti getting good attacking chances.
Opening. Black has no choice but to
13 . .. h7—h6
accept the invitation, because if he
plays 3 .. . g6 White replies 4 d4 Black is forced to weaken his posi¬
Ag7, and his prospects are better tion. Even less satisfactory would
thanks to the thrust 5 d5. have been 13 ...g6.

3 ... e7—e6 14 c3—c4 d5xc4

4 £)bl--c3 £)g8-f6 Black has no alternative but to take
5d2-d4 d7—d5 the pawn at c4, for 14 . ..&e6is
6a2—a3 £)f6—e4 followed by 15 0 fd 1, an unpleas¬
ant prospect, whilst 14 ... d4 loses
Regarded as a sound answer to
a pawn by 15 ^e4.
White’s pedestrian move. But Black
has a number of promising ways of 15^d3xc4 &g8-h8
continuing the game: 6 .. . £ke7
You will agree that Black’s mistake
6 ... a6 and finally 6 ... cd.
on the 10th move produced serious
7&fl-d3 £e4xc3 consequences. White has forced
8 b2 x c3 &f8-e7 open the diagonals for his mighty
9 0-0 - 0-0 bishops and is poised for an attack
10 &cl-b2 b7—b6? on the king. He is already threaten¬
ing to play 16 t&g6 with a double
What looks like a natural move puts
attack on g7 which cannot be par¬
Black in difficulties. The chances of
ried. Weak would have been for in¬
the two sides would have been
stance 15 ... £le7, which would
about even had he chosen the cor¬
have been followed by 16 t^c3 £)f5
rect reply, namely 10 . . . dc 11
17 e4 and the loss of a piece. To
A x c4 b6.
protect himself against 16 l^g6
Ilc4xd5 e6xd5 Black is forced to lose valuable
tempo enabling White to increase
If Black had taken the pawn with pressure.
his queen, White would have won a
clear advantage after 12 c4 and 13 16 I&c2-e4
d5. White’s attack takes its own course.
12d4xc5 £ke7xc5 Winning a tempo, the queen
13 t&dl—c2! changes over to the K-side.

16 ... &c8—b7
This is the punch-line. If White had
immediately played 13 c4 then Probably the decisive mistake.
Black would have exchanged Black could have put up a stout de¬
queens after 13 .. . dc and 14 fence by 16 . . . £kd7, or better still
& x c4. Now White can play 16 ... l&c7. But now his situation

129
is becoming hopeless because his £)d4 he loses a piece by 22 ed!
white-square bishop cannot take & X f3 23 &g3! At this point
part in the defence of the king’s Black’s defence is based on threat¬
flank. ening square g2. For instance 22
B X e7? would be weak because
17 Sfl—dl &d8-c8 22 ... £) X e7 and mate is threat¬
If 17 ... I&e7 then 18 l&g4 f6 ened at g2.
(18 ... f5 19 l&g6 and the threat of
22Sd7xb7!
20 & :h6 + which cannot be par¬
ried) 19 £)h4! and Black already White sacrifices his queen and for¬
loses material. ces victory. He could, of course,
have won using a different, quite
18&c4—d3!
deliberate and what is more a less
White forces Black to open his complicated approach, namely by
king’s defences. 22&g3! & Xg3 23 hg Eab8 24
£)e5! £) xe5 25 & Xe5witha
18 ... f7-f5
double attack on b8 and e7. Despite
19&e4-h4
the fact that Black can save a piece
Threats follow in short order. Black by 25 . . .&f6!26&xb8 &c6,
has to defend himself against 20 White wins at least a pawn by 27
&xh6 + . x a7 or 27 B X a7. White cannot
be reproached for sacrificing his
19 .. . c8—e6
queen and achieving his objective in
20 &d3-c4 &e6-g6
this dramatic manner, but this ap¬
21 Bdl-d7! &c5-e7
proach calls for accurate and far¬
sighted calculation.

22 ... &e7 X h4
23 £)f3 X h4 &g6-g5

The main variant 23 ... l^3fh7 24

£ld5! Bac8 (24 ... £a5 25
Bxg7&Xg726 &Xg7 +
(£> X g7 27 & X a8 B X a8 28
£) X f5 +, and wins) 25 ^e6! Bce8
26 ft x f5! B x f5 27 B X g7! Bb5!
is much more interesting. Black
tries to evade the fatal discovered
White’s rook has speedily pene¬ check, but White gains a decisive
trated into the seventh rank, and superiority in material after 28
Black is unable to cover square g7 £)g6 + & x g6 29 B x g6 B x b2
in any other way. If he tries to or¬ 30 E xh6+ <±>g7 31 B xc6.
ganize a counterattack by 21 ...
24 f2—f4 &g5-g4

130
• umimn iiiMiihiiiiimimmiimmmiiimmiiiimE.im

If Black had immediately played Nowadays the world champion

23 . . .&g4then24f3&g5 25 f4 likes to fianchetto the queen’s
(and then continued as shown bishop.
above) he would have won.
3 &fl-g2 Ac8-b7
25 &c4-e2! 4 0-0 e7—e6
5d2-d3
Black resigned.
Up till now White has concealed his
opening plans. Only at this point
does it become apparent that he in¬
tends to take up a King’s Indian po¬
sition.

5 . .. d7-d5
6 £lbl— d2 £lb8—d7

An interesting idea. If Black had

chosen the stock reply 6 . . . $lc7
White could have played 7 e4! de 8
The bishop is unassailable because de. Taking the pawn by 8 ...
if 25 . . . x e2 then 26 £)g6 + £l x e4 puts Black at a disadvan¬
and 27 B x g7 mate. On the other tage: 9£le5l£ld610 & xb7
hand if 25 . . . # x h4 then 26 x b7 11 i^ff3! with a double at¬
&xg7+ <£>g8 27 &c4 + Bf7 28 tack on b7 and f7 (Kotchiyev—Iva¬
B x f7 Black cannot avoid sustain¬ nov, Minsk 1976). This is why the
ing substantial losses in material, world champion first developed the
e.g.28 ...b5 29 £a2£)a5 30 queen’s knight.
&e6! Be8 31 Be7+ <£h7 32 7 Bfl—el
&f6 + B xe7 33 &xf5+!<£>g8
34 ^ x h4 and White wins. White is planning to make a thrust
The double attack is the leitmotif of with the pawn e2—e4. He could
White’s operations in all of these in¬ have made this move first, but if 7
tricate variants. It still happens oc¬ e4 then 7 . .. de 8 g5 c5 9
casionally that even the world’s best £)g x e4 £)f x e4 and it is plain sail¬
grandmasters fail to anticipate a ing for Black.
double attack early enough. The
7 ... &f8-c5!
following game is a good example.
8 c2—c4

King’s Indian Opening White is disconcerted by the

Po rtisch—Ka rpov bishop’s move to c5 and he drops
Moscow 1977 his planned thrust e2~e4, although
he could still have stuck to it: if 8 e4
1 £gl—f3 £g8-f6
then for instance 8 ... de 9 £)g5 e3
2 g2—g3 b7—b6

131
10fcAxg2 1lGxg2£d5 12 d5—d4. But this way Portisch aban¬
& de4! and a satisfactory game for dons square e4 leaving it under the
White. But at this point the rook control of the world champion,
move to e 1 proves pointless. who does not hesitate to take ad¬
vantage of the opportunity.
8 ... 0-0
9c4xd5 e6xd5 15... £f6~e4!
10£d2—b3 16 d4 x c5?

The bishop atc5 is apparently get¬ It is not easy for White to find a
ting on White’s nerves and he de¬ way out. He wants to weaken
cides to drive it off, although b3 is Black’s central pawns and forgets
not exactly an ideal posting for the for a moment his endangered
knight. knight. This is enough to bring him
to the brink of ruin. His answer
10 .. . &c5—b4! should have been 16 a3 to clear up
This move brings out the weakness the situation in the centre.
of the rook’s placing at e 1 and wins
valuable time. Worse would have
been 10 .. . &d6 11 £bd4 Se8 12
£b5.

Il&cl-d2 a7—a5

Black’s prospects would also have

been good if he had exchanged the
bishops, but Karpov wants to com¬
plicate the situation.

12 £)b3—d4 Sf8-e8
13 Oal-cl c7~c5
16 ... £le4 x d2
14£d4-f5 17£f3xd2 &d8—g5!
White’s knight crosses the demarca¬
And here is the double attack!
tion line and loses contact with the
White’s two knights are in danger.
remaining White forces, and White
They can protect each other by 18
now has to take great care that this
e3, but after 18 ... 0 x e3! 19
unprotected knight does not give
a3 & x d2 20 tfiSf x d2 Black has
Black an opportunity to mount var¬
more leverage in view of 20 ...
ious tactical attacks.
0 xg3!
14 .. . £d7~f8
18^1f5-d6
15d3-d4
He has no choice but to concede
One can understand White’s rea¬
the exchange. And indeed, as you
soning : the enemy threatened to
will recall, the best defence against
restrict his position by playing

132
the double attack is another double 19£d6xb7 &d2xel
attack. But of course not in this po¬ 20&dlxel Se8xe2!
sition.
Another double attack.
18 . .. &b4xd2
21t^elxe2 t£jg5xcl +
22&e2—fl &cl-d2!

The final coup! The queen covers

-the pawn at d5 and controls square
cl, which the Black rook threatens
to occupy.

23 c5 x b6

If 23 c6 then 23 .. . Sc8 24 i^/b5

t^fcl + and 25 .. . x c6 wins.

23 ... Sa8—c8

Inviewof24 ... Scl White ad¬

Portischconsidered anumberof
mitted defeat, for if 24 t^b5 then
variants in quest for a way out of
24 ... Sc2! and the threatened
this predicament, but to no avail.
mate forces White’s queen to turn
Let us also consider White’s possib¬
back.
ilities:
(a) 19 £ x e8 & x cl 20 £d6 &d2
21 £ xb7 & xel; Summarizing
(b) 19 h4 &h6 20 £ xe8 (20 £f5
&f6)20 .. . 0 xe8 21 c6 &a6.
remarks
Karpov says that the variant 20 on the double attack
x b7 is stronger-because after
20 ... A x el 21 & x el S x e2 22 When direct contact has been made
& xe2& xcl + 23 (&h2! be 24 with the rival forces and the pieces
A x d5. White has-a chance to of the two sides are attacked or
launch a counterattack. But Black, threaten to attack each other, this
too, has a better reply in this case, indicates that the tactical situation
i. e.20 .. . & xcl!21 & xcl on the board has come to a head.
S x e2 etc. Threats and attacks are the basic
(c) 19 c6 &a6 20 f4 &e7 21 £) xe8 elements of tactics. Just as a house is
t&e3 + ! and wins. In the end Por¬ made of bricks, so all tactical opera¬
tisch struggled through to the text tions are made of these elements.
move, which is not more enticing Let us assume that an offensive op¬
than the other variant considered by eration has been carried out and
us. There is no way of making good one of our pieces attacks one of the
the material losses brought about by opponent’s pieces. Certain condi¬
the double attacks. tions have to be satisfied in order

133
that the operation may prove suc¬ As a rule, they are considered separ¬
cessful and the enemy piece be cap¬ ately. But for us the exact opposite
tured. First, this piece must have no is relevant, for in essence all these
way of evading the attack and sec¬ operations are one and the same
ondly, the opponent’s pieces and thing, namely a simultaneous attack
pawns must be unable to rush to its on two enemy pieces.
aid. There must not be a single piece But here, in the case of the two-fold
or pawn that can support it or pro¬ attack, we should include another
tect it against the attack or at least method of attack, namely the simul¬
to block the line of fire of the at¬ taneous attack by two pieces on one
tacking piece. In practice, such situ¬ piece or on some important square
ations occur only in exceptional in the enemy camp. In the theory of
cases when there are many pieces the middle game there is also a spe¬
on the board. Usually there are cial case of such an attack that is re¬
pieces and pawns around, which garded as one of the tactical ele¬
can provide assistance in time, i. e. ments, namely the double check, in
on the next move. For this reason which the attack by two pieces is di¬
we can justifiably say that a simple rected against the enemy king. It is
single attack is not effective well-known from experience that
enough. In normal tactical condi¬ this device is extremely effective. It
tions there arc ample means of de¬ can also be used with good results
fence available. But what attack is in attacking any other piece or in
effective then? threatening important squares in
Apart from castling one can move the enemy camp. The important
only one piece or one pawn at a feature of this kind of two-fold at¬
time. This means that it is extremely tack is that usually the only way the
difficult to protect two or more piece being attacked can be saved is
pieces or to get them out of danger by flight.
if they are attacked. I believe we are It is not necessary to demonstrate
justified in saying that an attack in that such strong threats as mating
which one or several pieces attack or queening threats are no less
two of the opponent’s pieces (this is dangerous than attacks on pieces.
usually referred to as double attack) This means that by combining any
is a more effective offensive device one of these threats with an attack
than an isolated single attack. This one can get an attack that is as ef¬
first conclusion is very important fective as the two-fold attack. This
for us. conclusion is also very significant
In the theory of the middle game, for us. If we pursue this thought su’ll
some cases of the two-fold attack, further we inevitably arrive at the
e. g. the fork, the discovered check, conclusion that by combining these
the simultaneous attack of two two threats we obtain an attacking
pieces on two enemy pieces etc., are device that is just as effective. This
seen as different tactical elements. is the third important conclusion. It

134
is only logical to go one step further attacks, two-fold double attacks
and to include all threats, namely and various other operations oc¬
the major and the minor ones, e. g. curred. The mechanism was always
threats to immobilize an enemy the same, for their common feature
piece, to occupy a square in the ad¬ was the double attack. And lastly
versary’s camp, to isolate the oppo¬ we should like to stress that the
nent’s king, etc. To put it briefly, we double attack in its most general
hold that a combination of any two form can have different objectives,
threats is an effective offensive in¬ winning material being only one of
strument. This is our fourth conclu¬ them.
sion.
Thus, we proceed from the assump¬ A. Anderssen, 1842
tion that two-fold attacks, attacks
and threats and any double threats
are one and the same thing, so far as
their mechanism is concerned,
namely a combination of two ele¬
ments of attack, which in its most
general form we refer to as double
attack.
We are of the opinion that the
double attack is a particularly effec¬
tive and important means of of¬
fence. We have made a thorough
examination of the double attack
on the preceding pages. If we con¬ This is how White elegantly avails
sider the numerous positions in himself of the double attack: 1
which the double attack occurred, ^Ife6! It consists of two mating
we inevitably arrive at the conclu¬ threats (one being direct, the other
sion that this device is truly univer¬ covert). The first threat of attack by
sal and a multi-faceted tactical two pieces on square f7 cannot be
method not only of attack but also parried by taking the queen because
of defence. We have seen that the this leads to mate in two moves:
best defence against a double attack 1 .. .fe2 A xe6 + <£f8 3 Bh8
is a double attack. We have also ob¬ mate. But neither can Black defend
served that defensive moves leading himself by 1 ... S x b3, because
up to a double attack have a more this is where the second mating
lasting effect than ordinary moves, threat comes into operation: 2
which prompted us to refer to them Bh8+!&xh8 3 &h6+ &g8 4
as moves with a particularly lasting & xg7 mate.
effect.
We have also examined a number of
complex situations in which triple

135
Engels—Maroczy method, the double attack, that
Dresden 1936 helps White in his plight.

1 Sf5 + ...

The king has two ways to move.

First, let us see what happens if it is
played lo the left:

1 . . . &e7 2 Se5+ &d6 3 Del!

A xel 4&h3!. . .

And already we have the first

double attack. White attacks the
pawn, and if it reaches the queening
square and queens (or is promoted
to a rook) there is a stalemate. This
In this position White mounts a means that Black has to convert the
double attack whose objective is the pawn into a knight, but in this case
promotion of the pawn: 1 0 x b2! after 4 ... gl(£)) + . White plays 5
^ xb2 2 &xc8+!£xc8 3 d7 &g2 £)e2 and is saved by a double
and the pawn’s advance cannot be attack 6 &fl.
checked. But what if the king goes to the
Even a draw by stalemate can be the right?
objective of a double attack. 1 ...&g7 2dbh3!...

Again a double attack: the threat

A. Troitzky, 1895 against the pawn is coupled with a
concealed threat of a stalemate.

2 .. . gl(l&)3 0g5+ f (the double

attack against the king and the
queen forces Black to take the
rook) 3 ... ^ x g5 (or 3 ...
& x g5) stalemate!

There are, of course, numerous dif¬

ferent kinds of draw that can be the
objective of a double attack. We
shall consider only one case in
which a draw is achieved by block¬
ing the opponent’s king.
What can White do? Since he can¬
not keep the pawn from queening
he has to look for a feasible solu¬
tion. Again it is our universal

136
V. Cbekbover, 1954 fence we shall conclude the first
part of this book by giving you
some exercises to enable you to
practise on your own.

Exercises
for independent
study
In each of the following positions
one of the two sides can, unless
stated otherwise, emerge victorious.
You should try to find the solution,
i. e. to seek out, on your own, to
To prevent the pawn from queening track down the double attack that
White is forced to sacrifice his rook. leads to victory or to winning mate¬
rial. The caption below each dia¬
1 Qblcb(«S*)2&xbl...
gram states whose move it is. Please
But this puts him in a critical situa¬ note that the exercises are arranged
tion, because Black has a double at¬ in order of increasing difficulty.
tack lined up consisting of an attack That is why it is advisable to work
and a queening threat. through the exercises in the order in
which they appear. We believe that
2 ...e3!
by solving these problems on your
There seems to be no way out of own you will acquire a sense for the
this dilemma. And yet there is a de¬ double attack and that this will help
fence, namely with the aid of the you perfect your tactical profi¬
battle-tested double attack! ciency.

3 & xf5!e2 4 &g4!!... Exercise 1

This is an effective retaliation.

White attacks the pawn and threat¬
ens, after4 . .. el(l^f) to lock
Black’s king in a cage and throw
away the key by 5 h3. But if the
bishop is taken then the king can
stop the pawn without assistance by
5f34- (S)h4 6 (S3f2. To enable you
to acquire full mastery of the art of
double attack and to acquaint you
in detail with this important and ef¬
fective method of attack and de¬

137
White to play White to play

Exercise 10 Exercise 13
Black to play White to play

White to play
Exercise 68 Exercise 71

Exercise 69 Exercise 72

Black to play. May he play 1 ... £) e3 in

order to win the knight d2 after 2 fe A x
e3+ 3 £)f2, by means of 3 ... I&d5?

Exercise 73
Exercise 70

149
 White to play. How is the game going to
White to play
end?

Exercise 7 5
 .............

Solutions No. 12 White wins: 1 £)f7+1

B x f7 2 £)e5. In the game played
by Gilg v. Alekhine, 1932, White
No. 1 Black wins: 1 ...Be4 +
missed this opportunity.
(Marski—Yudovich, Minsk 1937).
No. 13 White wins: 1 &b2 Bf8 2 2
No. 2 Black wins: 1 ...d4 2
Bc7 + Ct>g8 3 Bg7+ &h8 4&a2!
& x d4 Be2 + (the simple line
or 1 ... Bh62 Bg3 + &h7 3
2 .. . & x d4 3 & x d4 &g2 + fol¬
Bg7+ &h8 4&bl!(R. Bian-
lowed by 4 ... x hi is also possi¬
chetti, 1925).
ble) 3 & x e2 £)e4 + (Rauser—Il¬
yin-Gene vski, Tbilisi 1937). No. 14 White wins a pawn: 1 &e7!
& x e7 2 B x e5 (Krogius-Gauf-
No. 3 Black wins: 1 ...d3!2cd(2
fin, Helsinki 1937).
hg de 3 x e2 I^fd4+) 2 ...
& x e2 3 & x e2 &d4 + (Taube- No. 15 White wins: 1 ^fc3 Bc8 2 f6
von Henning, Bad Niendorf 1934). &g6 3 £) x b6 £) x b6 4 &c5 (Ryu-
min—Makogonov, 1934).
No. 4 White wins: 1 £)d5 ed 2
&, x f6 (U hi mann—Schwartz, Stral- No. 16 White wins: 1 £) f6 + gf 2 ef
sund 1975). and there is no defence against the
two threats 3^fxf8+^xf8 4
No. 5 White wins: 1 0 x d6 x d6
B d8 mate and 3 (&g4 + (V. Vu-
2 e5! (Ahues—Kurpiihn, 1935).
kovic, 1951).
No. 6 Black wins a pawn: 1 . .. No. 17 Black wins: 1 .. . B xd3!2
£) x h3 + 2 x h3 & x c3 and if 3
cd(2 &xd3 &g5 + 3 Bd2
0 x c3 then3 . .. £)e2 + (Hiib-
x b2 + 4 d?d 1 a 1 + followed
ner—Tal, Biel 1976).
by 5 .. . & xhl)2 .. . &g5!
No. 7 White wins: 1 £lc6! (Shamayev—Ufimtsev, Leningrad
(L. Steiner—Purdy, Sydney 1937). 1949).

No. 8 White achieves a substantial No. 18 By 1 Bg4 White loses the

advantage: 1 d6! x d6 (1 ... exchange on account of 1 ...
& x d6 2 c5) 2 & x f5! (Sosin- £)e2+!2 &xe2 &xe3 + 3 &hl
Chistyakov, 1937). fg (Rubtsova—Belova, Moscow
1945).
No. 9 Black wins: 1 .. . &e7! (Kly-
atskin—Yudovich, Moscow 1937). No. 19 White wins: 1 g7 &d5
(1 . . . &h7 2 &d3)2c4! £) Xc4 3
No. 10 Black wins: 1 ... &f3! &e6 4 &g4 (H. Rinck, 1907).
&xh2+!2&xh2 £)f3 + 3Cijhl
£)g3 mate. No. 20 White wins a pawn: 1
B x g6! hg 2 & x e5, now the rook
No. 11 White wins: 1 0 X e6 is being attacked and 3 x g6! is
B xe62b6+!&xb63 Bh6! threatened (Sakharov— Rovner,
(B. Horwitz, 1873). Lvov 1951).

151
No. 21 1 £)g5 was followed by £xe5)2 £g5&b8(2 .. . Ac6 3
! ...£xg3!2&xd5£xe2+ 3 A X c6 & x c6 4 £ce4!) 3 A x a8
<&g2 A xd5+ 4 f 3 £) x c l with a & x a8 4 £) x h7! (Alekhine
decisive advantage (Monostori— v. Euwe, 1937).
Florian, Budapest 1930). Although
No. 29 White wins a piece: 1 &f3!
2e4^e2 + 3&hl &e5 4 &e3
&xf3(l ...£d5 2&xe7
£lf4 would have been somewhat
£l x e7 3 ^e4 or 1 ... &d7 2
better.
&h3!) 2 gf £d5 3 A x e7 & X e7 4
No. 22 White wins: 1 £h5!&d7 2 Od7. In the game between Ahues
l^fg3. In the game played by Tshi- and List, 1932, White missed the
gorin—Mason, Hanover 1902, the opportunity and played 1 l^rfl?
following line was taken: 1 3 fh5
No. 30 White wins: 1 £) x c6 be 2
&xf62 3 xh7 + &xh73
£xd5&h8(2 ...cd3&xd5 +
a x h7 + <2?g8 and Black won.
followed by 4 A x a8) 3 £l x e7
No. 23 Black wins: 1 ... 3bl 2 & xe7 4 &b4 ,3 f6 5 3 x c6
A x d6 f3 + ! 3 <£> x f3 3 x b3 + (Pogrebysski v. Kortschmar, Kiev
followed by 4 ... ed (Rossetto— 1937).
Sherwin, Portoroz 1958).
No. 31 White wins: 1 ^g6! In the
No. 24 White wins: 1 £)a5! al(i^r) game between Tartakoverv. Sultan
2 3 a6 4- <£>b8 3 £)c6+ followed Khan in 1932, White did not hit
by 4 3 x al (conclusion of a study upon this move.
by Platov brothers, 1929).
No. 32 White wins: 1 &b2!&h3
No. 25 White wins: 1 &d3!&cl 2 (1 ... g4 2 d4 &g5 3 &h2 mate) 2
&a3 + &c4 3 b3 + or 1 ... &al 2 d4 i^rd6 3 &g2 4- £&h4 4 £)f5 mate
&c3 4- <£>a4 3 b3 + (conclusion of (A. Troitzky, 1897).
a study by L. Kubbel, 1929).
No. 33 White wins: 1 3 X b6 £)b4!
No. 26 Black wins: 1 ... 3 g2! 2 2 &f7! AeS 3 & x b4 A x f7 4
x d5 3 x h2+ followed by &c5 &a7 5 &c6 &d5 + 6 &c7
3 ... ed (Bellon—S. Garcia, Cuba (conclusion of a study by M. Libur-
1976). kin, 1931).
No. 27 Black wins: 1 ...,£lh4 2 No. 34 White wins: 1 3xh7+!
&e2 (2&e4 &dl + 3 &el <£> x h7 2 &e7 + <£>g6 3 3 g8 +
&f3+)2 . ..&b7 4-3&gl 3d2! &f5 4 3 xg5+ <£>xg5 5&g7 +
4&xd2£f3 + 5 C2?f2 £l x d2 6 {i?f5 6 l^fd7+ (Durasv. Cohn,
3c7 &f3 4- 7 C2?el &e3 4- 8&dl Karlsbad 1911).
£lc4 (Reeflegerv. Wirthensohn,
Hanover 1976). No. 35 White wins: 1 £) x d4 cd 2
& xb74- 3 xb7 3 3 xe8!&xe8
No. 28 White wins a pawn: 1 4 A xc6 + 3d7 5 <&e2 <£>e7 6
Sxd7t&xd7(l .. .&xd7 2 A x d7 <S> x d7 7 <£>d3. In the game

152
played by Ragozin v. Alatortsev, No. 44 Black wins: 1 . . . &e7 2
Tbilisi 1937, White missed this op¬ ^fh5 ^fe3 + ! (not 2 ... x e2 be¬
portunity. cause of 3 S x f8 + & x f8 4
Sfl + 3?g8 5 &f7 + and mate in
No. 36 White wins: 1 & x g6 + 1
two) 3 3?h 1 & x e2 (Mattison
x g6 2 fi x g6 3? x g6 3 g4
v. Vukovic, Debrecen 1925).
Sh2 + 4&g3 Sd2 5 A xf5 +
3?f6 6 ^ x d7 (Spielmann v. Hon- No. 45 White wins: 1 fie4 \&e6 2
linger, 1937). fif5g6 3 3 xc8 B xc8 4fie7 +
(Eliskasesv. Muffang, 1935).
No. 37 White wins:! b6 fi x e4 +
2 <&h4! fid6 3 A x d6 + x d6 4 No. 46 White wins a pawn: 1
<3?g5! fie7 5b7 <&c7 6 d6 +! (con¬ A x f7 + > because 1 ... B x f7 is
clusion of a study by L. Kubbel, useless because of 2 ^fd 8 + Bf8 3
1929). B x g7 + <3? x g7 4 ih x a5 (LtS-
wenfisch v. Ilyin-Genevski, Tbilisi
No. 38 Black wins: 1. , . . <&bl + 2
1937).
Bel & xcl-l- !3 fi xcl S xc6 4
fid3 Bel + 5 fi x cl A x a8 (Mi- No. 47 Black wins: 1 ...fig3!and
kenasv, Aronin, Moscow 1950). if 2 3) x g3, then 2 . . . x e1 +
followed by 3 ... B X bl (Dzagu-
No. 39 White wins: 1 S x f71 de 2
rov v. Simagin, Moscow 1936).
Sg7+ &h8 3 S xd7&g8 4
Bg7+ <&h8 5 Be7+ and mate in No. 48 White gains superiority in
two (Schiffersv. Steinitz, 1896). material: 1 fi x e5 b5 (1 ...
£lxh3+2&xh3&xe5 3
No. 40 White wins: 1 X b5!
B xc6! &h5 4&g2 be 5 &d4 + )2
&xb52d5+ Sg7 3efh6 4fid4
&al! &xh3+3&xh3&xe5 4
etc. (Capablanca v. Corso, Havana
B x c6 &h5 + 5 dbg2 B x c6 6
1900).
b4 + 13)g8 7 ba (Hiibner v. Rogoff,
No. 41 White wins: 1 B x g7 Biel 1976).
A xc2 2 Bg6+ <&h7 3 A x c2
No. 49 Black wins: 1 ...$5rdl!!2
fic4 4 Bg7+ <&h8 5 Bh7+ <&g8
fi x b6 Bel (Arnold v. Duras,
6 Sh8 mate (P. Frydman v. Vu-
Prague 1920). 2 fie5 e2 + 3 3?hl
kovic, Podjebrad 1936).
& xel + !4 &xel &f2! would
No. 42 White wins: 1 ^h6 ^ff8 2 not have helped either.
& x h7 + 3? x h7 3 hg + 3? x g6 4
No. 50 Black wins: 1 ...^fh7+2
^.e4 mate (Fischer v. Mjagma-
Sh3 Sdl + 3<&h2 Bhl + ! 4
suren, Sousse 1967).
3? X hi (4&g3 3 x h3+ 5 gh
No. 43 White wins: 1 A g7 + ! ^fh4 mate) 4 ... x h3 + 5 3?gl
& x g7 2 fie8 +1 <&h6 3 &f4 + g5 & X g2 mate.
4 &f6 + <&h5 5 fig7+ <&h4 6
No. 51 White wins: 1 Sb3'(Kla-
&f2 mate (Mabs v. Alexander,
manv. Lisitsin, Leningrad 1937).
London 1961).

153
No. 52 'White gains advantage in No. 60 Black wins: 1 ...e4! 2
material: 1 B x e5 l^rd4 + 2 <£>hl A x e4 (2 &e2 g5) 2 ... £ X e4 3
Bd8 3 B xd5! (Sakharovv. Pav¬ & xe4 g5! 4 ^3f3 £kf5 (Napolitano
lenko, Lvov 1961). Better is 1 ... v. Batik, correspondence chess
Bd8. game 1958).

No. 53 White wins: 1 Sxe6 No. 61 White wins: l B x g7!, and

&xd4+ 2^fxd4! B xd4 3 if 1 ... {2? X g7 then 2 l^fg3 + d?f8
B x g6 + hg 4 B X d4 (Botvinnik 3 £lg6+ (Marshall v. Kupchik,
v. Szabo, Groningen 1946). Chicago 1926).

No. 54 1 ... 0d3 2 & x d3 & x U No. 62 White wins: 1 &b7! & x b7
is weak because of 3 f7! & X e3 2 a8(&) £ X a8 3 f8(l*r), e. g. 3 ...
(3 .. .&xf7 4 0-0 or3 ... &b7 4^b8;3 ...&c6(or3 ...
X f7 4 Bfl) 4 £ X h8 (Taimanov &d5) 4 ^fd6!j 3 ... &e4 4 dfirf4!
v, Sakhodyakin, Moscow 1945). (E. Pogosyants, 1976).

No. 55 White wins: 1 S xc7 £,d8 No. 63 White wins a pawn: 1

2&xg6+!&xg6(2 . ..&g7 3 J& x f7 + !, and 1 .. . & x f7 cannot
B xf7+ &xg64 £e5 + &h5 5 be played on account of 2 BdS +
g4 + &h4 6 b3 etc.) 3 t&rb 1 + &g7 3 ^fc3 ^ff6 4 t&c7 + etc. (Yu-
£>g7 4 Sb7 &f6 5^f5 £g5 6 dovich v. Chekhover, Leningrad
A x g5, and Black resigned (Duras 1934).
v. Nenarokov, Petersburg 1909),
No. 64 White wins: 1 t&h 1 + ! £i?c7
No. 56 After 1 B xb7!e4!2 2^cl+ <&d8 3^g5 + &c7 4
& x a4 & x h2+ the game ended & xb5 &d8 5^g5+ <&c7 6
in a draw (Simagin v. Aronin, Mos¬ i^fa5 + {2?c6 7 i^fc3 + (E. Pogosy¬
cow 1947). ants, 1976).

No. 57 White wins: 1 & x h7 +! No. 65 White wins a pawn: 1

&xh7 2l&h5+ &g8 3 B xf7! & xc2! & xc2 2 &a6! £ Xal 3
$2 x f7 4 g6 (Kasparyan v. Che- A X c8 l&a 7 4^xd7+^fxd7 5
khover, match 1936). B x al (Flohrv. Stahlberg, Zurich
1934).
No. 58 White wins: 1 &c7l! B xc7
2 l^fb7 + B X b7 3 B X c5 mate or No. 66 Black loses his queen after
1 ...t&xc7 2Sxc5+i&Xc5 3 1 ...£lcxd5 2£lcxd5£lxd5 3
i^b7 -I- Cl? x a5 4 Bal mate (Tar- & x g7 lC&r x g7 4 £ x d5 ^fd4+ 5
rasch v. Allies, Naples 1914). <£>hl ^ xd5 6 &c4!(F!ohr
v. Bronstein, Parnu 1947).
No. 59 White wins: 1 i^fb7 +!
& xb7 2 &xb7+ &a5 3 &b4 + No. 67 Black wins: 1 ...h5!2l^re2
&b5 4 &c3 + &c5 5 & xd4 + c2!3^f xc2 ^fhl+ 4&g3 h4+ 5
B X d4 6 B X d4 x d4 7 & x c8 *^f2 i^fh2 + followed by 6 ...
(Lyublinskiv. Nechiporovich, l^f X c2 (Snosko-Borovski v. Ale¬
Tsheboksary 1950). khine, Petersburg 1913).

154
No. 68 The only defence White has No. 74 White wins: 1 Bg2 £kcl 2
is 1 0d4! 0e5 (1 . ..h3 2&d5)2 Sgl Af4(2 ... &h63&xd6 +
^fa6! hg 3 hg 0 h5 4 0 h4 (Reti <&xd64 0g6 + )3&xd6 +
v. Maroczy, New York 1924). <&xd6 4<&e4^h2 5 Og2 *e5 6
Og6+ (J. Gunst, 1927).
No. 69 1 . .. £)e3 is a bad move.
Black found himself hemmed in af- No. 75 Black wins: 1 . ..&f4!2
ter2fe & Xe3+ 3 £f2&d5 4 0 X f4 £l X f4 3 & X f4 &bl + 4
<£>fl & X d2 5 l^fc2 and lost a piece &cl &Xcl+ 5 &xcl Oa8!
because 6 e3 followed by 7 <&e2 is (Vi km an v. Jovcid, correspondence
inavoidable (Flohrv. Makogonov, chess game 1955).
Parnu 1947).
No. 76 The correct reply is 1 b4!
No. 70 White wins: 1 Oe7!and White wins after 1 ... X b4 2
then e. g. 1 . . . & x d4 2 0 X f7! & x b5 0 x b5 3 & x b5 &b6+ 4
& xf2+ 3<&hl 0 xdl + 4 <2? hi &xb55 Oblle. g. 5 ...
0 xdl & Xc4 5 0 Xg7+ and &a6(5 ... &c4 6 &a4) 6 &d6!
mate in two. If 1 . . . £ke6 then 2 (Alekhine v. Chajes, Karlsbad
£) xe6! 0 Xdl + 3 0 xdl fe4 1911).
Od8 + etc. (Sosin v. Nekrasov,
Moscow 1931). No. 77 White won after I £le4!
0 xe7 2 £) xf6 + <&h8 (2 ...
No. 71 The winning move is 2 <2?f8 3 £ X h7+ <&g8 4 £f6 +
&d6!,e.g.2 ... £f2 + 3&h4 <£>f 8 5 £ x e7 gf 6 £ x c6 &e8 7
g5 + 4 <^h5, and the attack is re¬ l^fb4 a5 8 &c3) 3 £) X e7 HU X e7 4
pulsed. In the game played by !&e4! X e4 5 £l X e4 (Alekhine
Smyslov v. Petrosyan in a candi¬ v. Kimura, Tokyo 1933). If 1 ...
dates’ tournament in 1953, events x e4 then 2 ih x e4! (not 2
took the following course: 2 0 x d7 because of 2 ... X d7 3
& x d3 cd 3 d8(^f) draw. 0 Xd7 £ xc3!4 £h6 + <&h8 5
No. 72 White wins: 1 <^>b4 + <^>d5 x f7 + with perpetual check)
2 e4 + <£d4 3 &a2! <&d3 (3 ... 2 .. . & xf5 3 0 Xd8 Oexd8 4
& x e4 4 d3 + or 3 ... ^fe5 ^fc4 ^fe2, and White has the advantage.
mate) 4 ^fc4 + & x d2 5 ^fa2+.
No. 78 White wins: 1 l^fg3!!
The same thing happens if 1 ...
&xh6+ 2&h3 &d6 3<&hl <&g8
£c3 2 & xc3+ ®d5 3d3! &xe2
4 0 X e8 + <£>f7 5 Oh8 (Duras
4 ^fc4+ <2?e5 5 d4+ (L. Kubbel,
v. Spielmann, Piestany 1912).
1934).
No. 79 Black wins: 1 ... 0 X b6! 2
No. 73 White wins: 1 \&a2 + <^b4
ab &c5+ 3<&hl &c6!4&a5 ef! 5
2&b2+ <&c4 3&c2 + <£>b4 4
£l X f3 & X c2 6 & X a6 A X f3 7 gf
<&b2! &d5 5 &a4 + !!<£>Xa4 6
£lh5 etc. (Ljubojevic v. Karpov,
£c3 4- <&b4 7 £ X d5 + &b5 8
Manila 1976).
£)c7 + d?c6 9 £) X a8 (L. Kubbel,
1924).

155
 .....mi!..

By sacrificing the exchange by 1

Part 2 3 X c6 3 x c6 2 & X d5 White en¬
The combination tangled his opponent in a double at¬
tack. Black’s only satisfactory
answer is 2 ... 3c8. This is fol¬
lowed by a second double attack by
3 £ke6. The only reply is 3 ...
Co-ordination 0 c6. The double attack has not
achieved the objective yet because
of piece moves
Black can move the rook away and
keep the knight covered. But White
The simplest example of the co-or¬ has an extraordinarily strong move:
dinated movement of pieces is the 4 &d7.
two-fold attack. The important
thing is not whether one or two of
the enemy’s pieces are attacked, but
that the piece or pieces are attacked
by two pieces simultaneously. The
co-ordination expresses itself in this
simultaneity. But we shall not go
into this question here because we
have already dealt with the two¬
fold attack in Part 1 of the book in
detail. But the two-fold attack is not
the only possible case of co-ordi¬
nated movement of pieces. Let us
consider some other possibilities. On the one hand this is a simple at¬
tack, the white-square bishop at¬
tacking the rook and depriving it of
Cbistyakov—Simagin
squares c8 and e6. On the other
Moscow 1935
hand, the bishop is supported by its
black-square comrade. Although it
does not endanger the rook itself, it
does cut it off from squares c7 and
d6. The rook has no place left to
hide. Black has to reply by 4 ...
3 66, and after 5 x 66 White has
a won end-game. Here we have
seen the case of the co-ordinated
movement of pieces in which one
piece attacks an enemy piece, while
another restricts its sphere of ac¬
tion. A situation arises in which a

157
simple attack proves irrefutable. nated play of the king and the rook
Strictly speaking, the pawn at d4 after 2 ... <&d4! e. g. 3 Eel
(or the pawn at b4) which deprives £h3 + 4<&f3 £g5+ 5<&f4
the rook of the square c5 also takes £th3 + with a draw. Only 2 <&f5!
part in the attack on the rook. But <&d4 3 <&f4 <&c4 4 <&g4 and 5 Ee!
the Black pawns at b6 and f6, which leads to victory. This example
restrict the rook’s movement on the shows that as early as a thousand
sixth rank, and the knight at c4, years ago chess players recognized
which blocks the c-filc, also play an the significance of the co-ordinated
important role. Such cases of co-or¬ play of pieces.
dinated play in which one piece at¬ The co-ordinated action of pieces is
tacks and another one supports it essential in chess. In the present
are particularly frequent in end¬ book we try to show this in the most
games. general form.

Here is one of the oldest end-games

A. Troitzky, 1923
on record.

Sairak 9tb century

White to play and win

From this position White manages

to capture Black’s bishop, although
one does not realize right away how
White solves the problem of captur¬ this can be done.
ing the knight in the following man¬
1 f6!. ..
ner: J Ee3! Black has no choice but
to play 1 ... £lgl. The knight is White blocks the bishop’s escape
immobilized now, but it still has to across f6.
force the king to move to g4 in or¬
1 ...gf
der to cut it off from squares f3 and
h3 in order to attack it with the If 1 ... g6 then 2 <&b7 Ad8 3 &d4
rook from the first rank. If he tries <&d2 4 <&c8 <&d3 5 X d8 x d4
to do this by a direct approach by 2 6 <&e7, and the f-pawn is the first to
<&f4 he fails to achieve co-ordi¬ go to the queen.

158
2 &b7 &d8 3 &c8 &e7 4 <£d7 We see here that the king and the
&f8 pawn have co-ordinated their op¬
erations so well that they do not
The bishop wants to flee across h6.
permit Black’s pieces to make a
Time is ripe for White’s second
single step. The knight is lost, and
piece to go into action.
White wins easily after 3 . .. £)h6 4
5 &e3+ <£dl 6&e8 &g7 7 <£> x h6 <&g8 5 ffig6.
&xf7 &h8 8 (2?g8 Neither White’s king nor his pawn
directly attacks the opponent’s
The king has caught up with the
pieces. But they help create a situa¬
fleet-footed bishop after all. In this
tion in which Black is in Zugzwang
game the main burden rested on the
and is forced to make weak moves.
king’s shoulders, but White’s bishop
Co-ordinating the play of pieces
also contributed its share by not al¬
with a view to forcing one’s oppo¬
lowing its opposite number to move
nent into Zugzwang is one of the
toh6.
standard devices of the end-game.
The next example shows another In the middle game on the other
case of the co-ordinated operation hand, this happens very seldom in¬
of pieces. deed.

The creation of a Zugzwang posi¬

E. Pogosyants, 1961
tion is also the theme of the follow¬
ing problem, although White has to
try very hard to achieve success.

G. Zacbodyakin, 1931
319

How can White win here ? The

pawn at d6 is hopelessly weak, and
if White covers it by 1 B d5 then
White to play and win
1 ... (2?e6 2 Bdl £)h6 and it is lost
after 3 ... £)f7. The road to vic¬
In end-games such as thisvone can
tory is very instructive.
win only by conversion. But in this
1 Bh8!&g7 2&g5!<£xh8(if situation this does not seem feasible.
2 ... £lf6 then 3 Bd8 £e4+ 4 Perhaps one should try to hunt
&f4£xd6 5 Bxd7 + )3&g6 down the knight?

159
1 <£>c5 &c7 2 <£>d6 £)e8 + 3 &e7! Here, Zugzwang was achieved
£g7 through the co-ordinated action of
all forces at White’s disposal.
The only possible reply. If 3 ...
£]c7 then 4 C£>f7 Od5 5 g6 and 6 g7 V. Fedorov, 1947
mate. But even now the king and
the knight are deprived of their
freedom of action. It seems that
White can win easily by tightening
his grip on the knight and then cap¬
turing it by 4 t£>f7 Oh5 5 g6 Og7 6
&e4 £h5 7 Af3 Og7 8 Sg4. Only
8 ... £)h5! destroys all illusions,
because Black is stalemated after 9
&xh5.
The struggle for victory is very
hard. After 4 t£>f7 £)h5 one can try
White to play and win
to make a delaying move with the
bishop, e. g. 5 Ae4 in orderto reply
to 5 .. . £lg7 by 6 £&g6, but then Judging from the balance of forces
Black has the excuse 6 .. . £)f5! this looks like a drawn game. White
This means that White’s task is to can win only if he manages to cap¬
capture the knight, fending off ture his opponent’s knight. Let us
stalemating threats in the process. If try to solve this problem.
for instance he transfers his bishop
1 £c61. ..
to f7, the danger of a stalemate is
averted, because Black is free to By immobilizing Black’s king White
move to h7 and h8. Consequently, forces the hostile knight to move to
the right approach is 4 Ag6 (2)g8 5 a weak position.
£kf7 +. Now if 5 ... t£>h8 then 6
1 .. . £la6
(2?f6 &h7 7 &e5 &h8 8 (2>f4 &h7
9 (£?g4 C£>h8 10 g6, and we have Other replies are out of the ques¬
reached the Zugzwang position we tion. If I . . . £la2 then White
wanted. mounts a decisive double attack 2
But Black could have chosen a £k7 + ,ifl ...£lc2(orl ...
stronger move: 5 . . . £i}h7! in order £ld3) then White makes a double
to frustrate White’s plan after 6 attack by 2 &h7! (attacking the
d»f6 C£>h8 7 &e5 &h7 8 &f4 &h8 knight and threatening mate by
9 f£>g4 ^>h7. But even this obstacle Ag6).
can be overcome. Instead of 8 f£»f4
2 &h7 <£>f7 3 Ad3 £b4 (3 ...
the right move is 8 f£>e4! and after
£lb8 4 £]c5 followed by 5 &c7) 4
8 .. .&h8 9&f4&h7 10&g4
&c4!
(£>h8 11 g6 Black is in Zugzwang.

160
By threatening with a double at¬ Alekhine—Euwe
tack, White prevents 4 ... £)c2. Contest 1935

4 . ..&f6 5£d4!

Black has no defence against 6

&c5, by which he captures the
knight.

The next example shows a co-ordi¬

nated attack by three against two
pieces.

W. Neustadt, 1929

If White takes the pawn by playing

1 0 X b7 then Black apparently re¬
covers it immediately by 1 .. . ^c8
2 Sbl £) x d4.
But Alekhine foresaw the possibility
of co-ordinated play by the bishop
and the rook against the hostile
rook at a8. He replied 3 £) x d4
^ x d4 4 &f3! and Black’s own
White has to capture both Black bishop finds itself blocking the
pieces to win the game. This seems rook’s retreat on the 8th rank. The
possible by 1 ^d6+ <3?f7 2 ^c5, rook is being attacked and square
but after 2 .. . 3 d? X g8 ^gS! b8 is controlled by rook bl. Black
Black drives the bishop g4 away just played 4 ... ^d7 and lost the ex¬
in time and frees his knight. change.
The fine move by which White wins If a piece ventures deep among hos¬
is 2 &f4!, by which he forestalls the tile pieces it is particularly import¬
counter play mentioned above. The ant accurately to assess beforehand
forced reply 2 .. . &f 8 is followed if it will find itself in a dangerous
by an elegant manoeuvre which de¬ position and if it will be exposed to
cides matters: 3 Ah6+ £bf7 4 a combined attack by hostile pieces.
&e3!&f8 5 &c5+ &f7 6 &xgl
Let us consider some examples in
&f8 7 &c5+ &f7 8 &b4.
which the queen has strayed into
Similar cases of the co-ordinated the enemy camp and found itself
use of forces in attacking enemy under fire.
pieces also occur frequently in the
middle game.

161
A correspondence game played in knight to move to f4 and the queen
1935 is trapped. No wonder that White
played 13 ^3e2!, after which Black
suffers a substantial loss in material,
e.g. 13 ... Axe4 14£)f4 A x f 3
15£)xh5 Axdl 16&xdl,or
13 ...h614£)f4hgl5£)xh5.

Velim irovtc—Nunn
Moscow 1977

This position occurred after 1 e4 e5

2£)f3£)c6 3 Ab5d6 4d4ed5
d* x d4 Ad7 6 A x c6 A x c6 7
£)c3 £)f6 8 0-0 Ae7 9 Ag5 0-0
10 Qadl ^rc8 11 Ofel.
The queen recklessly hurls itself on
the enemy position: 11 ... i&g4 12 White to play
h3 i^h5. It is not too late to turn
back yet. Black had pursued a long-term plan
to reach this position apparently as¬
suming that he could move his
queen to the K-side and make
dangerous threats there. But let us
see what actually happened.

1 Qdl l&e4 2 Ad3!(not2 1h xe4

A x e4 3 II Sr a5? because of 3 ...
Ac2)2 ..’&g4 3h3&h5

326

But Black apparently thought that

the queen's posting at h5 was pro¬
mising. Let us take a closer look at
the resulting position. Black’s queen
has but one free square, namely g6.
This circumstance alone is a danger
sign, for it is enough for White’s

162
 ...

Although Black’s queen does not His queen’s freedom of movement

have a single square to move to, it is is somewhat restricted, but one
not easy to attack it, because if does not realize at a glance how this
White plays 4 &e2 Black has an can be exploited.
adequate counter: 4 . . . ^e4 5 Alekhine continued by 2 t^e2! ap¬
&d2 £) x c5. But White found a pearing to prepare for 3 x f7.
strong reply, which his adversary Black defended himself against this
had apparently overlooked: 4 £)g5! temporary threat by 2 ... Se8,
How can Black defend himself forgetting for a moment the precar¬
now? If 4 . . . h6 then 5 S&e2 t&rh4 6 ious placing of his queen. No won¬
5 d4! and White may gain a deci¬ der that this move proved to be his
sive material advantage. But if first mistake, because now his
. Black plays 4 ... h4 then the knight’s retreat is blocked, which
simplest solution is 5 g3 h6 6 only underlines the gravity of the
£ x a5 £l X c5 7 £ X b7 £l x b7 8 queen’s situation. In an effort to
£) X e6 X h3 9 £) X f8, because capture the queen Alekhine played
9 . . . £)g4 is followed by 10 &e4. 3 g4. Black cannot take the pawn at
Seeing no satisfactory way out, h3 because of 4 Sd3 l&h4 5 ^g2
Black conceded victory to his oppo¬ followed by 6 5 h 1. Euwe suddenly
nent. found himself confronted with the
difficult question of how to save his
queen. He continued with 3 ...
Alekhine—Euwe
£lc6, but after 4 <3?g2 £) X e5
Competition 1936 (otherwise White plays 5 £) f3) 5 de
is able to free his queen at the ex¬
pense of a piece, the knight at f6
having nowhere to move. That is
why Black should have played 3 ...
h6! 4 <£>g2 £) h7!, giving the queen
enough time to retreat. In the mean¬
time Botvinnik has pointed out that
Alekhine’s move 3 g4 was not the
strongest. The correct continuation
was 3 t&fl! In this case Black would
not have had enough time to play
3 ... h6 on account of 4 g3 tSSr h5 5
g4 &h4 6 £lf3. Even 3 ...^Ih5
In this position White attacked the would not have helped Black be¬
queen by 1 &cl. Instead of evading cause of 4 g4. The conclusion is ob¬
to f5, which would have led to vious. If the freedom of movement
nearly the same game, Black played of one of our pieces is wholly or
1 ...&h4. partly restricted, then the danger of
its being attacked grows in leaps

163
and bounds. One has to be particu¬ nated action of pieces in attacking
larly careful in such cases to avoid any target occurs not only when the
running the risk of an unpleasant pieces attack the target jointly.
surprise. They can play different parts and
still operate in a co-ordinated fash¬
The following situation is a con¬
ion by acting collectively in harmo¬
structive example.
nious concert.

A verbakh—Boudy
Polanica Zdroj
The mechanism
of the mating attack

The harmonious team-work of for¬

ces can be seen with particular clar¬
ity in the mating attack. We pro¬
pose to examine how such co-ordi¬
nation comes about and what ef¬
fects it has on the attack on the
king. We shall investigate the gen¬
esis of the mating mechanism and
White to play its function. We hope the reader
will not mind if we start off with the
The position is double-edged. most elementary of things, because
White can capture a pawn, but he as our approach is quite novel its
risks being attacked on the b-file, details have not been sufficiently
which would then be open. He explored yet. But in this manner we
played 1 C£?al! acting as though he shall be better equipped to gain a
were getting set to take the pawn better and deeper understanding of
and moving the king from the dang¬ the truly complex question of the
erous file. Black naturally covered co-ordination of forces.
the pawn by 1 ... a5. But White
had something entirely different in
mind. His plan was based on the
fact that Black’s queen placed in the
centre hardly had any squares to
move to. What followed was 2 f4!
x e4 3 Bel, and Black’s queen
was trapped. After 3 ... e6 4
£l x f6 Black was forced to resign.
We have examined enough exam¬
ples to be able to draw some conclu¬
sions. We have seen that co-ordi¬ Mate in two

164
To mate the king we have to de¬ too the job of controlling the
prive it of five squares while attack¬ squares is performed mainly by the
ing it on the sixth. Hence, to king, while the light pieces carry
achieve the objective we have to out the attack. By playing 1 &b6
combine two things: control of the Black’s king is cut off from the 7th
squares around the king and the di¬ rank. Black’s king seeks safety in
rect attack on the king. In the given flight by 1 ... <£^8, but after 2
position the king naturally takes £&g4 the king’s freedom of move¬
over the function of controlling the ment is curtailed still further and it
squares, while the queen does the is forced to go 2 ... <^>a8. There
attacking. are only two squares left for it to
By going 1 <£>g6 White immediately move on. By united efforts the king
deprives the opponent of squares f7, and bishop have cornered the king.
g7 and h7 and threatens mate by 2 Now the knight moves in for the
i^fa8. Black can do nothing to avert kill: 3 £>c3<£b8 4 £b5&a8.
disaster. This means that White has
set the mating mechanism in motion
by 1 d)g6, for his king commands
the necessary squares, while his
queen prepares to deliver the deci¬
sive blow.

Another kind of attack is also con¬

ceivable.

Let us stay with this position a little

while. White’s king cuts off squares
a7 and b7, his light pieces have
taken up threatening positions. The
mating mechanism has been set in
motion. The final assault begins by
5 £lc7 + Cbb8 6 £la6 +. The king
is pushed into the corner and
mated: 6 ... Cba8 7 £&f3 mate.
Given this relation of forces the
Basically the mating mechanism is
king can be mated only in the
the same as in the preceding case —
corner that is controlled by the
the king controls the squares and
bishop. To do this White has to de¬
the remaining forces attack the en¬
prive the king of three squares and
emy king. The only difference is
attack it on the fourth. In this case
that here mate is preceded by a

165
number of attacks, whereas in the tacked the king and delivered the
preceding position the mating at¬ decisive blows. The characteristic
tack was carried out right away. feature of the mating attack is that
But there is yet another variant of some pieces play an active, others a
the mating mechanism. passive role.

For instance if the king does not

take part in the attack, it can be re¬
placed by other pieces or even
pawns. Here is a case in which the
king’s part is successfully played by
a rook.

Mate in three

To prevent stalemate White has to

move his rook. The correct line is to
play 1 2c7 <&b8, after which the
rook can move back to any square
from c6 to cl. By this purely waiting
move, which seemingly does not
Mate in five
threaten anything, White sets the
mating mechanism in motion. Black
is in Zugzwang: the king is forced White has succeeded, after 1 2d7
to go in the corner 2 .. . (t?a8 and &g8 2 &d6 &>h8 3 £f5 &g8 in
White replies with 3 2 c8 mate. It setting up the mating mechanism il¬
should be mentioned here that the lustrated in diagram 331. Here,
mating mechanism based on Zug¬ too, of course it operates in the
zwang occurs almost exclusively tn same manner: 4 2h6 + (t?h8 5
the end-game. &e5 mate.
With regard to the co-ordination of Thus, substituting pieces to play a
piece movement I should like to un¬ given part basically does not change
derline the fact that the shares of anything.
the burden each offensive piece has But what happens if we substitute
to carry are not equal In the cases attacking pieces? Let us substitute a
considered the king did not take di¬ knight for the bishop h5 in diagram
rect part in the attack, its function 330. To prevent the king from mov¬
having been solely to deprive the ing to square c8 in the same manner
opponent’s king of some crucial as in the diagram we put the knight
squares. The remaining pieces at- on f7.

166
White to play Mate in eight

Let us try setting up a mating me¬

chanism by 1 (£?b6 (£?b8 2 £ld6 1 &b6 <£>b8 2 £ld6 <£>a8 3 £d4 f3
<£>a8 3 £c3 <£>b8 4 £cb5 <£>a8. Up 4 £)4b5 f2 5 £c7+ &b8 6 £a6 +
to now everything went the same <&a8 7£lb5(or7£le8)7 ...
way as before—with one exception: fl(t^f) 8 £lbc7 mate.
the knight at d6 does not threaten
This device of exploiting hostile un¬
anything yet. After 5 £lc7 + (£>b8 6
its occurs very often in mating situa¬
£la6+ (£>a8 White is only one
tions, because the passive task of
move behind^ which he needs for
depriving the attacked king of
regrouping. But he has no time to
squares can be performed by the op-
make it because the king is in a
pent’s pieces and pawns. After all, it
stalemate position. It is precisely on
makes no difference to the king
account of this stalemate position
whether it is its own or enemy for¬
that White is unable to bring the
ces that block its escape, the deci¬
mating mechanism to a successful
sive thing is that its elbow room is
conclusion. The situation would be
restricted.
altogether different if Black had an¬
other pawn. It could have had disas¬
trous consequences for him, for
White’s knight would have blocked
its advance up to a certain point,
then joined in the attack and—while
letting the pawn advance to the
queening rank—delivered the deci¬
sive blow. But you know all this
yourself. Here is a characteristic ex¬
ample.

167
In this position in which the forces
of the opponent are exactly equal,
White gives mate in two moves, the
first being 1 £)f5 +. To protect
himself against the coming mating
attack Black’s king should move to
square h7, but it is occupied by a
piece of its own colour. On the
other hand, if it moves to g8 then
White follows up with 2 Sh6.
Square f8 to which it could have
dodged is also occupied.

Here are another two elementary Here the rook and bishop are at¬
examples of similar cases. tacking. The king is forced to go in
the corner after 1 Bg7 +, square f8
being occupied by his own knight.
After that any move by the rook
along the g-file (except of course
g8) leads to mate, for Black’s pawn
at h7 is, figuratively speaking, a lid
to the coffin.
Through the skilful use of the oppo¬
nent’s forces one can make do with
a minimum of offensive pieces for
making a mating play. Let us ex¬
amine a few examples in which the
White to play
mating move is executed by a single
attacking piece, the task of preven¬
It would be advisable for Black to
ting the king from escaping to the
reply to 1 £lf6+ by playing his
adjoining squares being performed
king to f8. But unfortunately this
by the opponent’s chessmen.
square is already occupied by his
own bishop. He is forced to play his
king to d 8, which is followed by 2
Sd7 mate, for the square next to it
is blocked by his knight.

168
 imniiMtHiiiiHffiiiiiiiiifiimiwiimmiiii

G. Zacbodyakin, 1931 N. N.—Pillsbury

Conclusion of a study

Black to play

White to play and win

In this position Black mates his op¬
ponent in three moves: 1 . . .
At first the move 1 h6 seems to be a
£^f 1 4-, forcing the bishop to move
mistake because this pawn is lost
to g 1—2 ^gl™, followed by 2 ...
immediately after 1 ... £)g4 + 2
&f3 +! 3 & x f3 A x f3 mate.
<&f4 £) X h6. But by threatening the
It is not difficult to visualize a posi¬
knight by 3 d?g5 White puts his op¬
tion in which a single pawn delivers
ponent in a critical position. As
the mating blow.
3 ... (£*g7 costs Black a knight on
account of 4 Sd7+ , he prefers
playing it back to g8. But this limi¬
tation of the king’s freedom of
movement proves fatal: 4 B h2 +
<&g7 5 Bh7 + d?f8 6 Sf7 mate.
The king’s own knights prevent the
king’s escape from his fate.

I am sure you are familiar with the

smothered mate in which the king
surrounded by his own pawns and
pieces is checkmated by a solitary White to play
knight. For this reason allow me to
show you another rare case in Here White gives mate in two. The
which a single bishop forces mate. king’s free square e7 is taken by 1
Be7 + & x e7, making it possible
to give mate by 2 f7. Black’s king is
surrounded from all sides by his
protectors, which does not prevent
the brave White infantry man from
outsmarting them.

169
 The question we briefly touched knight off square e5, but White’s
upon here is very important. We bishop comes to the knight’s assist¬
have seen that in addition to co-or¬ ance.
dinating the movement of one’s
2 ... &f8 3 <dDf2 <dDe8
own pieces, keeping an eye open for
possibilities of using the opponent’s And now the king wants to free his
forces plays an important part in the knight from captivity.
mating mechanism. How can we
4 &a5 <dDe7 5 <&e3 &d6 6 <dDd4
win them over to our side, how can
£c7
we force them to hamper their king
instead of helping it? Black has achieved his objective,
We shall continue to give this sub¬ but what a price he had to pay! 7
ject the attention it deserves. But to &b4 mate. If the king retreats by
conclude this chapter let us con¬ 6 . . . <dDe7, then White first wins
sider some more examples in which the pawn at e6 by 7 d&c5 <dDf6 8
the opponent’s pieces are success¬ <dDd6 <dDf5 9 &d8 and then the
fully exploited for making mating knight.
attacks.
A similar situation develops in the
next study.
A. andK. Zarytchev, 1930

S. Bimov, 1955
Conclusion of a study

Judging by the way the material is

balanced this looks like a drawn
game. White can win only by forc¬
ing a mate or by capturing the The only line for White to take is to
knight, which is immobilized at try winning by mate; his chances of
present. capturing the knight are not very
good. But White starts pursuing the
1 £>e5 <dDg7 2&d8!...
knight by 1 £t?e3 ^>lh3 2 £^d7 Qg5
Black’s king wants to drive the 3 dDf4 £lh7. The knight eludes its
pursuers and arrives safe and sound

170
at the king’s side. But it deprives its ing mechanism. There is no reason
king of a free square, thereby en¬ why the opponent’s pieces should
abling White to finish off the game not be used in certain situations for
by 4 Sg6+ <£>g8 5 &e6 mate. playing the role of static compo¬
nents.
G. Kasparyan, 1936
Conclusion of a study
Individual contacts
In the starting position the white
and the black forces are separated
from each other by neutral terri¬
tory. At first everything is quiet and
tranquil — there are no threats from
either side, because apart from the
knights, no piece can move out into
the open.
And now comes the first move: 1
e2—e4. Immediately there is a radi¬
cal change : Two pieces—the queen
How can White stop the pawn at and the bishop—threaten to attack
f2 ? The problem seems insoluble. the weak point f7 situated near, and
But the next few moves show that protected solely by the king.
White can profit from the pawn’s Black replies with 1 ... e7—e5, and
conversion. again the situation changes. Now
Black poses the concealed threat of
1 S)g5!fl(«S») +
attacking point f2. In addition,
The pawn has queened and given White’s pawn e4 is blocked and its
check. But White has some effective advance is checked. This serves to
counter checks. illustrate that as soon as the forces
begin to be developed and to take
2 S)f3+ &h3 3 0h5+ <kg2 4
up forward positions concealed
0 h2 mate.
threats and attacking threats, i. e.
The newly-crowned queen prevents threats of direct contact with hostile
the king from freeing itself from a pieces, begin to emerge. But the
mating hold. Having studied the pieces of either side are not limited
various mating mechanisms we ar¬ to offensive operations but also
rive at the conclusion that there are have to protect and cover each
always pieces that play an active other. In other words a variety of
dominant role as well as those that different forms of contact, from
play a passive secondary part. The weakly developed contacts to
former can be termed dynamic, the strong, direct ones evolve between
latter static components of the mat¬ the pieces on the board. “Invisible

171
lines of force” covering the whole ing the squares in front of them or
board are formed between the by occupying them with pawns or
pieces as the engagement of forces pieces. Thus we have defined two
progresses. These different forms of types of contact — the aggressive at¬
contact that develop between the tacking and the restricting contacts.
pieces and pawns of one side and They occur with both pieces and
between both sides as well as pieces pawns, although there are differ¬
and important squares on the board ences in the effects they produce,
can be referred to as individual con¬ depending on the pieces in ques¬
tacts. Let us try to define the differ¬ tion.
ent types of individual contacts. There is another kind of aggressive
contact, which occurs with passed
pawns, but as a rule this happens in
1. The attacking contact the end-game. A passed pawn is at¬
tracted by the queening square as if
We shall call the contact that exists by a magnet. This gives rise to a line
between the attacked piece or pawn of force and consequently to an in¬
and the attacking chessman the at¬ dividual contact between the pawn
tacking contact. An attacking threat and Us queening square.
can also be regarded as an attacking
contact, even though it is weaker.
Not all pieces can attack each 3. The queening threat
other, e. g. the king can attack
neither its opposite number nor the It is easy to see why a queening
queen. But the king can assert itself threat is no less dangerous than an
successfully against the queen if it is attack on the queen itself. The or¬
left without cover within the king’s der of threat is inversely propor¬
radius of action. As regards pawns, tional to the pawn’s distance from
they can attack each other only on the queening square. Obviously a
adjacent files. pawn one square away from the
queening square is more dangerous
than one that still has several steps
2. The restricting contact to make.
Let us consider some examples of
The operating range of a piece is individual contacts.
restricted the moment it cannot
move to squares which would
otherwise be open to it. This can be
done simply by attacking such
squares or by occupying them. In
both cases restricting contacts oc¬
cur. The same applies to pawns.
They can be obstructed by attack¬

172
 ..mini

Here we see an example of a re¬ A similar situation with a rook. The

stricting contact, the king being in rook can completely immobilize the
control of both squares which the knight on any of the following four
knight could otherwise move to. In squares: b2, b7, g7 or g2, but it can¬
a situation such as this, where the not capture it.
knight is concerned, the restricting
contact also acts as a threatened at¬
tack, for on the next move the king
could attack the knight. This means
that in the position shown here the
king can cope with the knight
single-handed.
And here is a situation showing that
the bishop can confine the knight
but cannot capture it without assist-

As could be expected the queen is

best able to cope with the knight. In
the diagram the knight is in the cen¬
tre, but it takes the queen only a few
moves to hunt it down.

1 I&e4£ld7(l ...£f7 2l&d5

£l h6 3 ^fe6, and the knight falls) 2
l&f5 £lb6 3 l^fb5 £lc8 4 i^(c5 with
the same result.

In this case the restricting contact

The bishop has wholly confined the became at the same time an attack¬
knight on the edge of the board, but ing contact. The important conclu¬
it can do no more. Additional pieces sion to be drawn here is that a re¬
are needed to attack it. stricting contact can not only de-

173
velop into an attack, but that a re¬ protecting a piece by covering it and
striction can itself be an attack. by interposing another piece. Nor¬
mally, when a piece is covered the
piece giving cover is not attacked,
4, The protective contact whilst in the case of interposing the
protected piece remains more or
It often happens that an attacked less under threat. In other words,
piece can be covered or protected when a piece is covered the attack¬
by another piece giving rise to a de¬ ing contact exists only between the
fensive contact between like-col¬ attacking piece and the piece being
oured pieces, which we shall call the attacked. While, when a piece is
protective contact. It goes without protected by interposing then a con¬
saying that such cover is given only tact exists between the attacking,
when the attacking piece is more the attacked and the interposed
valuable than the attacked piece, piece, although in the later case the
because an exchange would not be relations are altered, i. e. the
desirable if the opposite were the shielded piece is now under threat
case. of attack, while the interposed piece
The mobility of the covering piece is actually attacked.
is impaired because it cannot move
away without endangering the
piece it covers. We shall consider 6. Refitting the queening
this point in detail later on in con¬ threat
nection with some examples of pro¬
tective contacts, but I should like to Attempts to stop a pawn heading
point out in advance here that the for the queening square by attack¬
king can protect not only a pawn ing it or the squares in front of it or
but also its advance. by blocking it lead to restricting
contacts, which we have already
discussed. But the independent indi¬
5. The interposing contact
vidual contact which occurs when
the king comes from afar to stop the
Sometimes one can defend a piece pawn, should be examined separ¬
attacked by a hostile piece by plac¬ ately. Contact exists between the
ing a piece or pawn between it and king and the pawn approaching the
the attacking piece. In this case we queening square. It is described by
have a defensive constellation the familiar quadrangle rule. We
which can be called an interposing call it the “queening threat”.
contact. Here, too, the defending
piece’s mobility is impaired, be¬
cause if it moves aside then the at¬
tacked piece is lost. But there is a
fundamental difference between

174
 White’s king enters the pawn’s qua¬
drangle, but it is unable to stop it
because after 1 £t>c6 h5 2 £t>d5 h4 3
(£>e4 h3 the square f3 is occupied by
the king’s own pawn causing it to
lose valuable time and to arrive too
late. Since we have already consid¬
ered contacts that arise in encoun¬
ters between the king and the pawn
it will be instructive to discuss the
elementary and familiar end-game
"king and pawn versus king” as an
You will recall that the king will example illustrating the application
stop the pawn if it is in the qua¬ of the theory of contacts. The bone
drangle cl—c6—h6—hi. From the of contention around which the
periphery of the next bigger qua¬ whole struggle rages is the queening
drangle, it can threaten to stop the square.
pawn, whilst from the rest of the
squares on the board the king can
try to make such a threat. These are
threats of different orders again. It
is very important to note that nega¬
tive restricting contacts can also
happen between like-coloured
pieces. They occur when piecescr
pawns for some reasons restrict Uie
lines of action or paths of their own
pieces, thus hampering their move¬
ment.
A elementary example. In this position the king not only
protects the pawn but also supports
its advance because it controls the
queening square. In this way two
protective contacts are formed —
the cover given to the pawn and the
support given to its conversion.
These protective contacts are at the
same time restricting contacts, mak¬
ing it impossible for the opponent’s
king to do anything to influence the
inexorable course of events.

White to play

175
 In this position the squares marked
“0” are those from which White’s
king can establish contact with the
pawn and its queening square,
thereby ensuring the pawn’s promo¬
tion. In the theory of pawn end¬
games these squares are known as
key squares, because the objective
of this kind of end-game, i. e.
queening, can be achieved once
they are occupied by White’s king.
We know that in this position
If the king is unable to get to these
White’s pawn forces its way to the
squares then he can never support
queening square despite the fact
his pawn’s advance to the queening
that the Black king is posted on the
square.
queening square. If it is White’s
turn to play, he quickly transposes it
to c7 or e7. After 1 <dbd6 White’s
king threatens to occupy one of
these important squares from which
it can support the pawn’s advance.
Black’s king tries to restrict it in or¬
der to keep it off these squares. But
Zugzwang frustrates Black’s plan;
his king has to step aside and let his
opposite number pass: 1 ... C£>c8 2
C£>e7 or 1 ... <£>e8 2 <£>c7. If it is
Black’s move then 1 ... (£>c8 is fol¬ Black to play
lowed by 2 d6 Ci>d8 3 d7. The pawn
hinders Black’s king by contesting Black must obviously keep White’s
square c8. It is forced to move back king off c7 and e7. This can only be
3 ... C£>e7 and after 4 (£?c7 queen¬ done by 1 . . . <^d8. After 2 (£>e6
ing cannot be prevented. (£>e8 or 2 C£>c6 (£>c8 Black’s king
prevents his opposite number from
353
penetrating to the key squares. But
if White throws his pawn into ac¬
tion by 3 d7 + t£>d8 it becomes
clear after 4 C£>d6 that White’s king
and pawn have deprived Black’s
king of all free squares and this is
tantamount to stalemate.

176
 White is unable to overcome
Black’s restricting contacts, and the
result is the same regardless of
whose move is next. If it is White’s
move then Black gives stalemate by
1 &>a8&>b6 2a7 &c7. If it is
Black’s move then 1 . . . £t>c8 2
&>b6 &b8 3 a7+ &a8 4 &>a6 and
Black is stalemated. The strategy of
this game is of elementary simpli¬
city: to win, White’s king has to get
to b7 or b8 thereby establishing a
Here, too. White seeks to gain con¬
protective contact with the pawn’s
trol of the key squares and Black
queening sqqare.
tries to hinder his opponent and
prevent him from achieving his ob¬
jective. This shows that the out¬
come of such elementary games is
determined by the possibility of es¬
tablishing protective or restricting
contacts. If White manages to esta¬
blish contact between the king and
the pawn’s queening square then he
can support its advance to the
queening square and there is no¬
thing to prevent its pawn from get¬
ting there. But if he fails to break
through his opponent’s restricting
Black’s king is in the pawn’s qua¬
contacts then the game ends in a
drangle and it would be pointless
draw. The a- and h-file pawns have
for it to advance. But White’s king
special parts to play in such end¬
succeeds in reaching the key square
games.
g7. This is done as follows:

1 &g4! &e5 2 &g5 . . .

While White’s king presses for¬

ward, it prevents its adversary from
moving to squares f6, f7 or f8.

2 .. . &e6 3 &g6 &e7 4 &g7

The pawn inexorably marches on to

the queening square.
The term “contacts” not only helps
to describe the nature of the

177
struggle in this end-game but also and the warding off of conversion
its special features and its essence. threats. Defensive contacts include
From this it follows that the theory defensive possibilities, support pos¬
of contacts put forward here is fully sibilities of interposition and the in¬
in accord with the theory of key terposition itself. But this break¬
squares. But the latter covers only down does not apply to all cases,
the struggle of kings in end-games for the function of a certain contact
with pawns, whilst the theory of depends, as we shall soon see, on
contacts also applies to other, much the concrete situation.
more complicated end-games and In individual contacts, pawns and
middle game positions. We shall pieces are united by almost imper¬
presently have an opportunity of ceptible bonds (except, of course,
convincing ourselves of this. the queening threat, where the
pawn is linked to the queening
square), giving rise to diverse cross¬
The co-ordinated attack links between them.
Let us now examine co-ordinated
In the preceding chapter you have piece cross-links, which are charac¬
been acquainted with the new term terized by certain contacts.
of “contact”. This term enables us We have already exhaustively stud¬
to reflect special features of situa¬ ied the mechanism of the mating at¬
tions that have developed on the tack (cf. pp. 164—171). We have
board; it can also be used for mea¬ found out that in this mechanism
suring the degree of co-operation there are always pieces (one’s own
of forces on the two sides. We have or the opponent’s), which hem in
defined six different kinds of ele¬ the hostile king; in addition there
mentary contact: has to be a piece that delivers the
1. the attacking contact actual death blow to the king.
2. the restricting or confining con¬ Thus, every mating attack involves
tact an attacking threat in the form of an
3. the conversion contact attack on the king and some re¬
4. the protective contact stricting contacts. This means that
5. the interposing contact any mating position—regardless of
6. the refutation of the conversion the forces taking part—can be de¬
threat scribed in terms of combinations of
With certain qualifications all these contacts, namely combinations of
contacts can be broken down into restricting contacts and attacks. Let
three groups, i. e. actively attack¬ us consider as an example two
ing, restricting and defending con¬ cases, in which the king exposed to
tacts. Active contacts include at¬ a mating attack is either in the
tacking threats, attacks and queen¬ corner or on the edge of the board.
ing threats. Restricting contacts in¬ In the diagrams the squares on
clude confining threats, restrictions which the king’s freedom of move-

178
 iiiiimmitmtiiiiiifmitimitiiMmiiDiiiiiiimiiii

ment has to be curtailed are marked (b) Mating with the rook
with an x.

1. The cornered king

Here restricting contacts have to be

created with two squares. The task
of restricting the king can be per¬
formed, e. g. by the king or a rook.
If the cornered king is to be check¬ A finish in which only White pieces
mated it has to be cut off from three attack is conceivable: A knight
squares and attacked on the fourth. hems in the opponent’s king and
The mating pattern varies accord¬ covers the mating rook.
ing to the attacking piece.

(a) Mating with the queen

And here are a few positions with

Black’s pieces taking part in confin¬
ing the king.
In this case the restricting contact is
required only for one square. It is
created by covering square a7 with
any piece. It would also suffice if it
were occupied by a black pawn or
rook.

179
 (c) Mating with a bishop

Two squares have to be restricted in

order to give mate with a bishop.

In the chapter entitled “The me¬

chanism of the mating attack” we
have analysed in diagram 330 the
attack with a knight and a bishop
on the lone king. But a position in
which a pawn plays the part of the
king is also conceivable as a mating
finale.

A similar ending results when the

In diagram 362 a black rook can be
king is threatened by two bishops.
just as fatal as the black pawn. In
the next diagram the knight can be
replaced by a pawn. And finally, di¬
agram 364 shows the king being
checkmated on the 8th rank, which
is quite common.

180
 ,Ui<nui i fHHUi ......(He.

(d) Mating with a knight

The king has to be deprived of three

squares in order to give mate with a
knight.

372

Positions in which restricting con¬

tacts are made by black pieces or
pawns merit special attention. Here
are two such positions.

181
First a position in which only white (e) Mating with a pawn
pieces are attacking.
Like a bishop, a pawn needs two
restricting contacts, but unlike the
former, it has to be supported by
one of its pieces. The simplest mat¬
ing position is in which White’s
king is on c8 or c7 and square a7 is
controlled by a knight on c6 or a
bishopon c5.

2. The king on the edge

And here are two examples in which If the king is being attacked on the
the king’s own pieces and pawns edge of the board then the mate
restrictthe king’s freedom of move¬ ending does not differ essentially
ment. from that in which the king is corn¬
ered. The only difference is that in
374
the former case the king has to be
cut off from five squares and at¬
tacked on the sixth, which means
that it is only a matter of the num¬
ber of restricting contacts, whilst
the number of attacking contacts
remains the same, namely one.

(a) Mating with the queen

Diagram 375 illustrates the well- If the queen attacks horizontally,

known “smothered mate" position, then two restricting contacts are
needed.

182
 ...

(b) Mating with a rook

The same applies if it attacks along

a file.

To mate the king on the edge of the

chessboard a rook needs three re¬
stricting contacts. Perhaps the most
typical position is the one shown in
diagram 364, which we have al¬
ready discussed. The fact that we
have shifted it three files to the right
makes no difference.

(c) Mating with a bishop

The queen is the only piece that can
attack six squares if it is supported
by one of its pieces or pawns. Here
is an example of such an attack.

The problem of creating four re¬

stricting contacts can be solved in a
As we shall see later, mating attacks number of ways. In the example
in which the queen is covered by a shown in diagram 382 this job is
piece or pawn are quite frequent in performed by the queen, while the
practice. attacking is done by the bishop.

183
(d) Mating with a knight

Like the bishop, the knight needs

four restricting contacts in order to
execute a mating attack.

367

Here are two examples of such mat

ing positions.
 iMinjijiiiiiijiiiiiiiiijiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiliiiiiiiiilii

To illustrate this kind of mate I have

picked an example in which only
White men take part in the offen¬
sive.

I did not intend to draw up a com¬

plete list of all possible mate end¬
ings. If you wish you can extend this
list without any trouble. This would
be a profitable exercise by the way.
Mating positions in the centre of
the board do not differ basically
(e) Mating with a pawn from the positions we have ex¬
amined. Here too there is always a
In conclusion, here is a mate ending
piece that makes the mating attack,
in which a pawn delivers the fatal
other men restricting the king’s mo¬
blow. To give this kind of mate
bility—an important but still only a
there have to be four confining con¬
supporting pan. They influence the
tacts and the pawn has to have piece
course of the struggle but they do
cover.
not determine it.
In all these mating systems using
various piece constellations there is
always an attacking contact, the ac¬
companying confining contacts
and in some instances—e. g. in dia¬
grams 361,368,373,379 and
391—protective contacts. All these
contacts centre on the king. This
means that any mating position can
be described in terms of a co-ordi¬
nated combination of an active at¬
tacking contact, confining contacts

185
and occasionally protective con¬ Here is an example of a stalemate
tacts. The number of confining con¬ ending.
tacts varies depending on whether
Nikolayevski— Taimanov
the king is posted in the corner, at
Tallinn 1966
the edge or in the centre of the
board, but the active attacking con¬
tact determines the mate ending.
Situations in which the object of at¬
tack (in this case the king) is sub¬
jected to an attack and at the same
time its freedom of movement is
restricted will henceforth be called
combined attacks. I should like to
repeat that a combined attack al¬
ways involves an attacking contact,
a confining contact and occasion¬ Black to play
ally a protective contact. In this
connection I should like to empha¬ At first sight Black’s position seems
size that the co-ordinated attack on utterly hopeless because he is about
other pieces, which we discussed at to lose his pawn at c5. But after
the beginning of Part 2, is basically 1 .. .<&b6 2&d5&a5 ! we realize
the same as a mate ending. Here too that Black’s king has an ideal hiding
we always find an active contact place at a5. If White takes the pawn
along with confining contacts at c5 he deprives Black’s king of b6,
aimed at the piece being attacked. its only free square, and the game
That is why such a co-ordinated ends with a stalemate.
combination of contacts can also be
But what conditions ensue if perpet¬
called a combined attack.
ual check is given? Let us examine
End-games leading to a stalemate
the finale of a study by Rinck.
are characterized by positions in
which the king is subjected exclu¬ H. Rinck, 1904
sively to confining contacts, but in
which there are no attacking con¬
tacts. In stalemate positions the
king has to be cut off from three
squares if it is in the corner, from
five squares if it is on the edge of the
board and from eight squares if it is
in the centre. Thus, a stalemate is al¬
ways a co-ordinated combination
of confining contacts, the only dif¬
ference being the number of such
contacts.

186
 h.u.Miiiiiijmiiimjuiiniiiiiiiiiiiimmimjifimm

No matter where Black's king at¬ By continuing with 1 . ..K^fh4-f-2

tempts to flee he cannot escape per¬ i^fh7 ^d8+ Black allows his oppo¬
petual check: nent to get a second queen by 3
g8(<£Sf). But after 3 ... f6 + 4
1 &d3+ <£>g4 2 &e2+ <£>h3 3
i^fhg7 &h4 + 5 &8h7 &d8 +
&fl + <£g4 4 &e2 + <£>f5 5
Black gives perpetual check.
&d3 + <£e6 6 &c4 + <£>d7 7
In the final position we see a co-or¬
&b5 + <£>c8 8 &a6 + .
dinated combination of an attack¬
White’s bishop operating on the ing contact by the white queen and
white squares is responsible for the two confining contacts by the two
attacking contact, while his partner white queens. If instead of the white
covering the black squares makes queen at g7, for instance, there
the confining contact. Black’s stood a bishop and instead of the
queen, bishop and the two pawns queen at h7 a pawn, Black could
play an equally important role in even checkmate the king. Although
the perpetual check mechanism. for a brief moment the two queens
They confine their own king’s can establish an interposing con¬
movement to the white diagonal. tact, a fresh line of attack is opened
Just as in the mate ending we have a immediately enabling Black’s queen
co-ordinated combination of an at¬ to give check again and resulting in
tacking contact and confining con¬ a perpetual attack.
tacts. But these confining contacts Manoeuvres leading to a draw,
were only good for giving perpetual which are based on the building of a
check, they did not suffice to check¬ stronghold or on a blockade, are
mate the king in the centre of the also characterized by certain co-or¬
board. dinated combinations of contacts. It
happens frequently that the
The combination of contacts can
stronger side is simply unable to
also be of a different nature in per¬
penetrate the opponent’s fortifica¬
petual check situations.
tions.

G. Lolli, 1763 Here is an amusing example de¬

394 voted to this theme.

Black to play and force a draw

187
E. Rudolph, 1912 A. Troitzky, 1910

Draw

Black has an overwhelming mate¬ Here we see an example on the sub¬

rial superiority, but White takes ad¬ ject of blockading the king. Black’s
vantage of the opportunity to give monarch sits on h4 in a trap and
away one of his bishops and to bar- cannot flee because of the combina¬
ricade all entrances end exits to the tion of confining contacts directed
fortress. against it. The queen can do no¬
thing on its own.
1 £a4 + !&xa42b3+ &b5 3
c4+ &c6 4d5 + &d7 5e6 + We have seen that draws by stale¬
d? xd8 6 f5. mate, perpetual check, stronghold
and blockade are also characterized
As if with the magic wand, a “magic
by a co-ordinated combination of
fence” made up of white and black
contacts.
pawns suddenly materializes on the
board. This fence has produced a
combination of confining contacts,
which cannot be penetrated by a Contacts
single black piece. The contacts are and combinations
directed against all black pieces,
in the double attack
completely paralysing their activity.
Unable to find a target. Black sim¬
I should like to remind the reader
ply does not know which way to di¬
that the concept of double attack
rect his forces.
has been given a broader scope here
than has been the case in theory so
far. We regard the three following
combinations of pieces as instances
of double attack: 1. A piece or a
pawn attacks or threatens to attack
two objects; 2. Two pieces attack or

188
 .. ... . .. .....

threaten to attack a certain object; Here is a characteristic example.

3. Two pieces attack two objects.
These objects can be either pieces
or squares. If pieces are attacked
then two active contacts ensue in
the double attack. But generally
speaking, a combination of any two
of the six elementary contacts can
prove to be a double attack.
This important idea is one of the
pillars of the author's Theory of
Contacts. This extends the range of
the concept of double attack used in This double attack is harmless be¬
modern theory still further and en¬ cause the rooks provide adequate
ables us to consider a wider array of mutual cover. But let us make a
positions from this point of view slight change in this position by in¬
and makes it easier to understand terposing a black pawn.
the motive forces behind the events
taking place on the board. The ex¬
tension of the concept of double at¬
tack is justified and methodically
expedient, for it enables us to give
due credit to this very important
manifestation. Thus, the double at¬
tack is always a co-ordinated com¬
bination of contacts, which in the
first and third cases are directed
against two, and in the second
against one pbject. We shall now This immediately enhances the ef¬
examine the various manifestations fectiveness of the double attack be¬
of the double attack in proper or¬ cause it deprives the rooks of their
der. mutual cover. The loss of one of
them is inevitable. Thus, in the first
1. One piece attacks example there was an equilibrium of
or threatens to attack contacts—both attacks were refuted
two objects through the mutual cover of the
rooks. The pawn introduced be¬
This kind of double attack covers tween the rooks has upset the equi¬
all variations of the “fork” and “pin¬ librium by severing the contact be¬
ning”. In an attack on two pieces its tween the rooks thereby,substan-
effectiveness depends on the con¬ rially enhancing the effectiveness of
tact existing between the two the double attack.
threatened pieces.

189
An interesting double attack with The queening threat is met by the
active contacts is shown in the next bishop at b5. At the same time the
diagram. pawn g4 is outside the white king’s
sphere of influence. But by 1 <2?c5
"White launches a double attack
threatening to take Black’s bishop
and to enter the quadrant of the
pawn at g4. After 1 ... Ad7 2 <2?d4
<&b6 3 <&e4 <&c6 4 <&f4 <£>d6 5
e8(i^f) the game ends with a draw.
The double attack was based on
two contacts, namely an active one
(the attack) and a passive one (the
threat of stopping the opponent’s
pawn).
On the one hand the pawn at c7
threatens to queen (this is a first ac¬
tive contact), while on the other
hand it is attacking the knight at d8
(this is the second active contact).
To refute this double attack one has
to gain control of squares c8 and d8
with some other piece. The knight
itself is not in a position to do this.
As pointed out earlier, a combina¬
tion of any two of the six elemen¬
tary contacts that I have mentioned White to play
previously can lead to a double at¬
tack. In this position 1 &c6 also leads to
Here are some examples of this. a double attack, namely to a combi¬
nation of an attack and a threat to
400 hem in Black’s bishop, or in other
words, to limit its sphere of action.
The pawn can be advanced both af¬
ter 1 ... Ae3 2 Ac5 and after
1 . . . Ad8 2 Ac7 with a.win for
White. Here we have an active and
a confining contact.

White to play

190
 the concealed threat of attacking
the pawn at a7. But there is another
contact, for through the text-move
White gains control of square d4
thereby hemming in Black’s king,
which cannot move there. In this
manner White prevents the Black
king from reaching square c7,
which consequently cannot prevent
White’s king (after capturing the
pawn at a7) from asserting control
White to play
of the key squares b7 and b8. After
1 ... &b4 2 &c6 &a5 3 &b7 &b5
At first sight White’s position seems
4 & X a7 &c6 5 C£?b8 White ad¬
completely hopeless. His pawn is
vances the pawn to the queening
under fire, and his king is far from
square. Thus, we see how an active
the black pawn’s quadrant. But
contact can be combined with a
White saves the game by continuing
confining contact in a double at¬
with 1 C®?b7. This move is a typical
tack.
double attack, combining the threat
of supporting his pawn with that of It is very important to understand
stopping his opponent’s pawn. The the conclusion of the following
issue is settled after 1 ... <2? X a5 2 study in order to grasp the meaning
establishing two defensive of the double attack.
contacts.
The next diagram shows an inter¬ G. Zakhodyakin
esting example of the double attack.

White to play
White to play
By playing 1 &d5 White threatens
In this position White confronts his to stop the pawn at h4. That is why
opponent with a double attack by Black proceeds with 1 ... h3. This
going 1 ($?d5! The first contact is is followed by 2 &c4, which con-

191
fines Black’s king. This move in it¬ E. B. Cook 1864
self would not be so dangerous, but
with the assistance of the bishop
and the pawn White threatens to
give mate in two moves. And the
game actually ends in a win for
White, for if 2 ... h2, then 3 &b4
hl(i^f) 4b3 mate. Thus, strictly
speaking, the move 1 Ct>d5 is a
double attack, for in addition to
threatening to intercept the pawn,
this move contained a mating threat
of the third order. Despite the fact
Black to play, White force a draw
that the king itself cannot give
mate, in co-operation with the pawn After 1 ... c2 2 0 b7 + &c8 White
and the bishop it poses a combined apparently cannot save himself. But
mating threat. This factor is very he finds a way out, which is con¬
important, for it shows that even a nected with a double attack: 3
mating threat—despite the fact that 0 b5! This move contains two
it is a complex combination of a threats. The first is to stop the pawn
threat and confining contacts—can by 4 S c5( +), leaving Black no alt¬
be represented as a single contact of ernative but to continue with 3 ...
any piece if it brings about a mating ci(<&). But then the second threat 4
combination. By playing the king to 0c5+ xc5 stalemate material¬
d5 White has created a combination izes. Thus, this double attack con¬
of pieces consisting of the white sists of the threat of stopping the
king, the black pawn (refuting the pawn and of the concealed threat of
queening threat) as well as the a stalemate by sacrificing a rook.
black king and the white pawn and The fact that Black was forced to
bishop (mating contact). Thanks to take the rook because of the double
the co-ordinated combination of attack on the king and the queen is
contacts, the double attack has also important here. The double at¬
fused all these pieces into single tack was staged in such a way that
unit. This can also be expressed in a Black was forced to accept the sac¬
different way: It is precisely this rifice.
combination of pieces that has con¬
jure dupthe double attack.
Threatened stalemate can also form
part of a double attack.

192
A. Troitzky, 1897 pieces, whilst the squares around it
Conclusion of a study' are subjected to two-fold attacks.
In studying mating attack contacts
we have established (cf. diagram
379) that for instance the queen,
supported by any one of its men,
can deprive the king posted on the
edge of the board of all squares. By
our definition, these cases are
double attacks.

Let us take a well-known elemen¬

tary position in-which the queen
and a pawn launch the double at¬
White to play
tack as an example to illustrate this
point.
By 1 tl?h3! White attacks the pawn
and threatens stalemate. If Black
goes 1 .,.gl(6)(orl ...gl(B)
then White replies 2 b7 + *2? X b7 3
c8(1^f) + <2? x c8 stalemate! On the
other hand, 1 . .. gl(£l) + is fol¬
lowed by 2 Ct>g2 and after 2 ...
£)e2 3 ®fl with a double attack on
the bishop and knight.
There were actually three connec¬
tions in this position: an attack, a
threatened stalemate and a con¬
cealed threat of a two-fold attack. White to play
An important conclusion can be
drawn from all this. In addition to White stages a double attack
the single connections examined by against g7 by 1 f6. To ward off mate
us, a double attack can also comprise Black plays 1 ... g6 thereby sever¬
such complex connections as mate, ing the queen’s contact and repell¬
stalemate or a two-fold attack. ing the attack. But then the queen
steps aside by 2 l^fh6 and restores
2. Two pieces attack contact with g7, after which mate is
imminent. By the way, the pawn at
or threaten
f7 plays a negative part in such situ¬
to attack an object ations, preventing both the king’s
flight and the cover of the fatal
First and foremost this category in¬ square g7 from the rank.
cludes all positions in which attacks But we have already examined mat¬
on the king are carried out wich two ing attacks in which two pieces are

193
involved. The attack with a rook This is a similar position in which
and a knight, for instance, which the rook, supported by a knight,
leads to a double attack, is shown in gives mate: 1 £lc6+ &e8 2 Sd8
diagrams 337 and 361. mate.
Double check is a special case of the Note the special feature of this var¬
double attack. It is a terrible wea¬ iant of the double attack: At first
pon in a mating attack. the two pieces attack one point,
then one of them occupies that
First of all two examples illustrating
point and gives mate, whilst the
situations in which double check
other piece supports it. Conse¬
leads to mate. In the first case the
quently two contacts occur in the fi¬
rook that gives mate is supported by
nal phase of this double attack,
a bishop.
namely an attacking contact and a
protective contact. Confining con¬
tacts by the opponent’s pieces are
also usually involved.

Here is another instance of such a

double attack.

Mate in two moves

After 1 &g5 + the king has to step

aside by going 1 ... &e8, this is
followed by 2 2 d8 mate.
White to play

Two white pieces are attacking the

pawn at h7. It cannot be covered,
but Black’s king is ready to flee: 1
& x h7 + &f8 2 ^h8 + &e7. But
as you know, the strong move to
make in such positions is 1 i^fh6! In
this way "White cuts off the king’s
escape route and threatens to
change the line of fire, or more pre¬
cisely, to transpose the double at¬
tack: 2& xh7+ &h8 3&g6 +

194
&g8 4 &h7 + &f8 5 & x f7 mate. Kotov—Kortcbmar
This device is used quite often in at¬ Tula 1951
tacking the king.

3. Two pieces
attack two objects

The simplest case of such a double

attack is when two pieces attack
two hostile pieces. This is shown in
diagram 411.

Kan—Yudovitch
Game variant
Tbilisi 1937
White seems to be in trouble here,
and this would be true if Black’s g-
file pawn was posted on g6. But as
things are White has a chance to ex¬
tricate himself from a difficult situa¬
tion by means of an effective sham
sacrifice: 1 & x h7 4- ! After 1 . . .
&xh7 2 ^d3-|- (the saving double
attack!) 2 ... &g8 3 B x f2 White
has better prospects.

Popiel—Marco
Monte Carlo 1902
White establishes two active con¬
tacts by 1 Af5!, the bishop attack¬
ing the queen and rook el attacking
the rook at e7. After 1 ... t&f x f5 2
B x e7 White’s double attack gives
him an advantage in material.
This kind of double attack is parti¬
cularly effective when one of the at¬
tacked pieces is the king.

195
This famous position keeps crop¬ sition the bishop establishes the at¬
ping up in chess textbooks as a cu¬ tacking contact, whilst the rook
riosity. The bishop at d4 is attacked makes the confining contact.
by three pieces, and there seems to
The following diagram shows a fas¬
be no way of giving it additional
cinating case of defence by double
cover. That is why Marco decided
attack.
to resign, although he could have
not only defended himself but even
S. Bimov
won the game! By playing 1 ...
Excerpt from a study
S&gl! Black could have made a mat¬
ing threat on h2 and atttacked the
queen at d3. As you see, the double
attack in this case consists of an at¬
tacking contact and a mating
threat, which in turn consists of an
attacking contact (by the queen)
and a protective contact (by the
bishop).
When we were examining the mat¬
ing mechanism, on several occa¬
sions we came across double attacks
in which one piece attacked the White to play
king, while other pieces cut it off
from adjoining squares thereby en¬ Black’s pawns are pressing forward
abling the attacking piece to check¬ inexorably. How can they be
mate it. A typical example is the stopped ? There is a way out. White
mate ending shown in diagram 338. plays 1 Sgl! thereby establishing
It merits special attention. First of contact with the first rank (confin¬
all White launches a double attack ing contact) and being ready to at¬
on g7 by 1 Sg7+ driving the king tack the king with the bishop. The
into the corner. This double attack threats of 1 ... al(l^f) and 1 ...
consists of an attacking contact (by el(l^f) are suddenly refuted, be¬
the rook) and a protective contact cause if either move is made. White
(by the bishop). This is followed by plays 2 &g2 + and the new-made
another double attack in which the queen is forfeited.
rook moves back along the file And now a few examples in which
keeping watch over square g8, the double attack is accompanied
while the bishop checkmates the by complex contacts.
cornered king. Note that in this
mating mechanism consisting of
two double attacks the tasks of the
pieces and consequently also of the
contacts alternate: In the final po¬

196
Fine—Thomas Alekhine—Rubinstein
Hastings 1936 Karlsbad 1923

White to play

By going 1 ^fg4! White organizes a

The weakened position of Black’s
double attack on g7 and poses a
king and the menacing stance of the
mating threat. Two contacts came
knight at g5 seem to favour the idea
into being here: an attacking con¬
of transposing White’s queen to the
tact (by the queen) and a protective
K-side. White would indeed tri¬
contact (by the knight). At the same
umph immediately if his bishop
time White has set up another
stood on g2 by launching a double
threat, i. e. a second double attack
attack by 1 ^ff3, attacking f7 and
by 2 £)h6 -I-, threatening the king
threatening h5 +. But the bishop
and attacking the unprotected
at e4 is in the queen’s way. If one
queen at d7 with his queen.
could only move it out of the way
Here too we have two contacts: the
quickly without giving Black time
threat of harassing the king with the
to play 1 . .. g6.
knight and the threat of attacking
Alekhine solved this problem by go¬
the queen with the queen. Thus we
ing 1 &g6! This move is a double
have seen that White’s move 1 g4
attack on f7 by the bishop and the
creates an involved system of con¬
knight. At the same time White pre¬
tacts consisting of two double at¬
pared a concealed threat of a sec¬
tacks. Being unable to defend him¬
ond double attack consisting of an
self, Black resigned.
attack by the queen on h7 and of
the supporting posting of the
knight. If for instance Black plays
1 ... fgthen 2 &e4 (2 &g2 is also
good) 2 .. . A x b4 3 x g6 &g8
4 &h7 + Cbf8. Now the decisive
onslaught begins: 5 ^fh8 +. C£?e7 6
&xg7+ &e87&g8+ &f8 8

197
ififg6 + (I?e7 9 x e6 mate. That is The last finesse resulting in a remar¬
why Rubinstein replied with 1 . . . kable drawn position.
^e5, but after 2 £l x f7 + 0 x f7 3
A xf7 l&f5 4 Sfdl! "White got a
quick win.

G. Zakkodyakin, 1930
Conclusion of a study

White’s pieces are linked by invisi¬

ble defensive contacts, which frus¬
trate all attempts by Black to bring
his overwhelming material superi¬
ority to bear. If the knight g7
moves, White forces it to return to
White to play
its original square by giving check
with the bishop at e5. In this posi¬
tion the bishop does the attacking,
White’s position looks catastrophic,
the knight confines the king and
both pieces being under fire and
protects the pawn and the bishop,
1 . ,. f 1 (&) is threatened. In princi¬
while the pawn supports the knight
ple this is a three-fold attack, but
and deprives the queen of square f6.
White finds an astonishing solution.
This position comprises one attack¬
1 Ac5!... ing contact (the bishop threatens to
attack the king), two protective
This compelling move is a double
contacts (the knight protects the
counterattack:The pawn is under
bishop and the pawn; the pawn
fire and White threatens perpetual
covers the knight) and three confin¬
check with his knight,
ing contacts (the bishop hems in
1 ...fl(&)2£]h6+ ... Black’s knight; the pawn prevents
the queen from moving to square
This move also has its strong points,
{6; the knight pins down the king).
for it is a combination of defence
All the white king has to do is not to
(the knight escapes from the threat)
interfere in its forces’ work to¬
and attack (the king is pushed into
wards a draw.
the corner from which there is no
escape).

2 ... (I?h8 3 Ad6!

198
 ......Hijiiiiiiijijiiiiiijjjiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiijiiiliiiiii!

Contacts with their confining contacts. The

ratio of contacts in relation to the
and combinations
contested square is 2:2. A shaky
with passed pawns equilibrium prevails for the time be¬
ing, But White has a knight that he
In this chapter we shall tiy to work can use to upset it in his favour. He
out the characteristic features of does this by playing 1 £lc7. The po¬
combinations of contacts that occur sition is typical of a double attack.
in the struggle between passed White’s knight attacks his black op¬
pawns and different pieces. We al¬ posite number and at the same time
ready know that in end-games with sets up the concealed threat of
pawns it is necessary to have, in ad¬ queening if Black takes his knight.
dition to a threatening (active) con¬ Black has no choice but to reply
tact between the pawn and its 1 .. . £lb8, which is followed by
queening square, a protective and a another double attack 2 b5 +,
confining contact with this square this time a decisive one. White at¬
in order to prevent the opponent’s tacks the enemy king, whilst his
king from stopping the pawn. But own king is about to capture the
what happens in other kinds of end¬ knight. Black’s king has to retreat
game? and Ids knight is lost.
The following position is character¬ If White had a white-square bishop
istic of end-games with knights. instead of a knight, his road to vic¬
tory would also be uncomplicated.

Here we have the active contact be¬

tween the pawn and the queening
square as well as the protective and By 1 &c4 White drives the knight
confining contact between the king to b8 and by 2 & b5! he creates con¬
and this square. But this still is not fining contacts round the hapless
enough for a win. Black’s king and knight, which has no square it can
knight prevent the pawn from move to and the game is over. As
queening by acting on square b8 you see, a combined attack (which

199
we are already familiar with) devel¬
ops in which an attacking contact
(the king attacks the knight) and
various confining contacts (the
bishop is fully in control of the
knight) occur.
In the struggle between a knight
and a pawn on the one hand and a
bishop on the other it is very im¬
portant that the knight should
establish a confining contact before White to play and win
the king can come to the bishop’s
assistance. White retains the upper hand by 1
Sa8+ <£g7 2e7©f7 3 Sf8-K
Even after playing 2 e7 White can
-already threaten two contacts: the
queening threat and the protective
contact of the castle. The best Black
can do is make a confining contact
with his rook. Thus, by playing
2 ... d?f7 Black restores the equi¬
librium of the contacts with regard
to square e8 for the time being. But
after 3 0 f8 -I-, by pushing aside the
king, White establishes a confining
Black to play, White wins contact, at the same time restoring
the 2:1 ratio of contacts at square
White wins without trouble in this e8. Here too we see a combined at¬
elementary position. He threatens tack in the final position consisting
to play the knight to c7, thereby of the active contact at square e8
severing the contact between the and the contact in which the white
bishop and square b8. That is why rook hems in the black king. You
Black has to play 1 ... &b8 him¬ can see for yourself that all final po¬
self. But even after this move 2 5lc7 sitions in which passed pawns reach
wins. White completely immobilizes the queening rank are characterized
the bishop by this confining contact by combinations of contacts,
and gets an Immediate win. namely either by a combined attack
In such a position Black can refute and the associated contacts or by a
the con fining con tact only if his double attack.
king can assert itself on square c6 or Up till now we have examined com¬
b6. binations of contacts at a certain
And here is the ending of an ele¬ point in time, statically as it were.
mentary end-game with rooks. But now we shall study the dynam-

200
ics of this question on the basis of How should Black continue? In
certain types of position. We shall desperation he attacks the king.
see how contacts and their combi¬
1 . . . 0g6+ 2&e5!...
nations come into being in the
course of a game and what bearing The check was by no means as
they have on the course of events harmless as it looked at first sight.
and on the final result. We shall an¬ Actually it is an attack that is cou¬
alyse positions in which a rook has pled with an attacking threat and a
to contend with a far-advanced concealed threat of a double attack.
pawn, but the rook is so badly If White had answered with 2 (£>f5
placed that it cannot stop the pawn Black could have played 2 ...
directly and the rook has to look for 0 d6. But the natural 2 &e7 would
other ways to establish contact with have cost White a win, because
the queening square. White’s king would have entered
the zone of the hostile king’s con¬
After A. Troitzky, 1893
fining contacts. This could have led
to 2 .. . Sgl! and after 3 d8(^)
Sel + the king would have had to
step on the d-file, which would have
resulted in a double attack and a
draw.

2 . . . Sg5 + 3 C£>e4 0g4+ 4 &e3

0g3+ 5&d2 0g2+ 6&c3

Since the king is moving along the

c-file, it keeps an eye on the d-file
Black to play, White to win and finally it hides on square c7.
Black finds himself in a precarious In the case discussed above the
position. The pawn threatens to rock’s own king prevents the rook,
queen and his own king blocks his through a negative confining con¬
rook’s access to the 8 th rank. The tact, from getting at the pawn.
contacts that have come into being
are marked in the diagram. The
pawn’s active contact with square
d8 is marked with an arrow; the
square d5 watched over by the king
is marked with a cross, whilst the
squares controlled by Black’s king
are marked with dashes. I did not
mark all squares controlled by the
pieces but only those that are of
consequence in the clash that is
about to take place.

201
Again the essential contacts are we have succeeded in describing the
marked in the diagram. The pawn is events taking place on the board
in active contact with square d8 with precision.
and—thanks to the fact that the The characteristic feature here is
rook is posted on the e-file—it is in that the king does not participate in
confining contact with square e8. any way in the events. By moving
Just as in the preceding example, to d2 White’s king safely evades the
White’s king controls the squares of squares controlled by his counter¬
the d-file. Here too Black finds part. But what would have hap¬
himself in a critical situation, for the
pened if Black’s king had stood on
pawn cannot be stopped by normal b2 instead of bl ? In this case square
means. But he can start harassing c3 would have been within his
the white king with checks. sphere of influence. Up to a certain
point the game developed as in the
1 .. . Se6 + 2&c5!.. .
previous example: 1 ... Se6+ 2
Again White has to think very care¬ C£>c5 Se5*t- 3 C2?c4 Se4*f, and
fully before replying. For instance if now White should play his king to
2 C£>c7 then 2 . .. Se7 with an im¬ d3 because square c3 is controlled
mediate draw was possible. It would by the opponent’s king.
also have been wrong to try attack¬ Black’s reply to this double attack is
ing the rook by 2 d?d5 because of 4 ... Sel with the threat of
2 ... Sel, and in view of the launching a double attack of his
threatened attack the rook has ma¬ own. But White defends himself
naged to establish contact with the with a second double attack by 5
pawn’s queening square. C2M2 against which Black is finally
powerless. This means that the con¬
2 .. . Se5 + 3 C2?c4 Se4 + 4 C£>c3
fining contacts of the black king at
Se3 + 5&d2!
b2 do not suffice to upset White’s
This is the objective White has pur¬ plan and to support the rook. The
sued. Only now does he threaten game takes an altogether different
the rook, making use of a typical turn if Black’s king is posted on b3.
double attack: the pawn threatens to
queen (first active contact) and the
king attacks the rook (second active 425

contact). This double attack is deci¬

sive, for Black has no way out. We
have seen that in the position shown
in diagram 424; White’s plan is to
prevent Black from harassing his
king with the rook. White wards off
the attack with a manoeuvre of the
king that culminates in a double at¬
tack. In analysing these positions

202
In this altered position, square c4 is sion but also plan ahead, to recog¬
not accessible to White, and he can¬ nize the developing contacts in time
not step on d4 because of the rook and to assess the development of
move to el. This means that with events on the basis of these contacts
the black king on b3 the game ends and their changes. The following
with a draw through perpetual study for instance, which is known
check. Please note that in this per¬ throughout the world and which we
petual check position the active get by shifting the position shown in
contacts cancel each other as it diagram 424 one file to the left, is
were: the queening threat (an active characterized by a very instructive
contact of White) is cancelled by change of contacts.
the attack on the king by the rook
(an active contact of Black). F. Saavedra, 1895
What if Black’s king were posted on
a4? It seems to be unable to influ¬
ence the course of events from
where it stands. But this is not so.
After 1 . . . B e6 + 2 <£>c5 B e5 + 3
d?c4 the following position ensues:

At first events develop as in diagram

424, even the contacts of the two
sets of position being the same, i. e.

1 ... Bd6+ 2&b5 Bd5 + 3 &b4

Bd4+ 4&b3 Bd3+ 5&c2...
The confining contacts emanating
As in the preceding position White
from the black king prevent the
entangles his opponent in a double
white king from fleeing to the b-
attack. Note the posting of the
file. Taking advantage of this Black
kings. White’s king placed at c2 has
immediately moves his rook to el
rendered two of the three free
because he realizes that after 4
squares inaccessible to its opposite
d8(l^f) Bel + and 5 .. . Bdl + he
number. At this point one might
loses his queen and the game.
well decide to play for a draw.
These examples show that a strong
chess-player must be able not only 5 ... Bd4!
to calculate the variants with preci¬

203
Black evades the attack and sets up By attacking the rook White’s king
a cunning trap at the same time: if 6 changes to another front, confining
c8(l&) then 6 .. . 0 c4 + !! 7 other squares than before. The c-
itf x c4 draw! The queen had to file becomes free and a second ac¬
take the rook because of the double tive contact is established, i. e. the
attack. But let us stay yet a little mating threat at c 1.
while with the position after 5 . . . The final position entails a double
attack again, i. e. an attack coupled
with a mating threat.
If the black king in diagram 427
was posted on bl, his rival could not
reach c2 at all and the game would
end with a draw through perpetual
check. In addition, Black could use
an alternative line of play to achieve
a draw. Instead of 1 ... 0 d6 + he
could also play 1 . . . Sd2!, al¬
though this would enable White to
create a fresh queen by 2 c8(l^f).
What happens if we choose to take
a rook instead of a queen? Let us try
it!
6c8(0)!...
There is only one line of defence
against the threatened mate on a8.
6 . . . Sa4
It is not hard now to find the move
that will decide the issue.
7<&b3

Black utilizes his king’s control of

squares a2, b2 and c2 and gives per¬
petual check, as White’s king can¬
not cross the c-file because of a
double attack.
A similar situation enables Black to
achieve a draw in the following
seemingly hopeless position.

204
 The solution begins with a seem¬
ingly senseless move 1 &g8!, al¬
though from the point of view of
contacts it is completely natural.
Thinking ahead, White starts mak¬
ing preparations for a draw the me¬
chanics of which we are already
familiar with, by vacating square h7
for his rook. After 1 .. . f2 2 0 e7 +
&f3 3 Sf7+ <&g2 4 0g7+ <&h3
5 Of7«&g2 6 0g7+ C&fl 7 0h7
we have the same position as in the
preceding study except that the
White plays 1 a6 and tries to colours are reversed.
engineer a double attack by means
of a pawn sacrifice. Black accepts The following study proves that the
the bait by 1 .. . 0 x a6. After 2 same perpetual check can also be
<£>b7 a standard situation of piece given horizontally.
combination ensues: the king is at¬
tacking the rook and the pawn
threatens to queen. But Black frus¬
,
G. Afanasyev 1950
Conclusion of a study
trates his opponent’s plan by re¬
covering the rook after a2 an d giving
perpetual check after 3 c8(^).

Now that you have made the

acquaintance of this draw mechan¬
ism, the following study will cer¬
tainly not come as a surprise to you.

V. Korolkov, 1950

Queening cannot be prevented. Af¬

ter 1 0 d4 + dt?e2 2 Se4+ <&f2 3
0 f4 + Cbg2 the king can no longer
be molested by checks (4 0g4 +
would be a bad mistake in view of
4 . .. "^f3 since the pawn at h2 con¬
trols the square gl). But thanks to
the fact that the king at g2 and the
pawn at h3 effectively hem in the

205
newly arisen queen, White makes a and combinations is significant not
splendid move: 4 Sb4‘The threat only because it helps explain the es¬
of intercepting the pawn forces sence of the events taking place on
Black to play 4 ... hl(^). But at the chessboard. Far from it! I shall
this point the concealed threat of soon demonstrate that as a rule con¬
perpetual check comes into play: 5 tacts occur even before a combina¬
Obi &xh3(5_darh2 6 Sb2+) tion materializes and that each
6 0 b2 +, and we have reached an combinational ending is highlighted
analogous position, even if the file by a certain co-ordinated combina¬
hi—h8 is only a mirror image. By tion of contacts. One can hardly
shuttling back and forth between overestimate the meaning of these
the squares bl and b2 the rook two facts. First we are able to recog¬
keeps pestering the opponent’s king nize the evolution of combinations
with interminable checks. in advance by carefully noting the
In this section we have examined occurrence of contacts. And second¬
the tactical peculiarities of a num¬ ly, once we have an idea of which
ber of positions characterized combinations of contacts are char¬
mainly by a struggle between a acteristic of certain combinations
passed pawn approaching the we can prepare such combinations
queening rank and a rook trying to in advance or frustrate them by de-
stop it. The concept of contacts and stroing the contacts. In either case
their combinations I have intro¬ one thing is clear: the theory of
duced were used in analysing the contacts and combinations is a very
struggle. With their help the essence effective means of obtaining a bet¬
of the events taking place on the ter understanding of the course of
board was described exactly and the struggle.
impressively.
From this we can draw the import¬
ant conclusion that the proposed What is a combination?
theory of contacts and combina¬
tions helps analyse a wide variety of The word “combination” is bound
tactical situations and makes for a to occur in any chess book we hap¬
better understanding of the course pen to come across. This term is
of the struggle. widely used in chess literature. But
Rules prohibit the noting down of when it comes to giving a precise
contacts during the game. But by definition of combination we
bearing in mind the contacts and usually notice that by no means
remembering how they come into everybody uses this term to mean
being and what combinations they the same thing.
give rise to, you will find it easier to The question that springs to mind is
find your way through the various why we need a precise definition of
complex constellations on the combination in the first place,
board. But the theory of contacts whether the fact that different peo-

206
pie have different interpretations of nections or combinations of pieces
the term is so important. The ques¬ and pawns led them to an important
tion is justifiable. But this problem is observation. When a player carried
not as simple as it may appear at out a well-planned operation, it
first sight. First of all, the important happened occasionally that his op¬
thing here is not so much the ter¬ ponent’s responses were forced and
minology as the classification. he was unable to influence the in¬
There can be no unanimity in the exorable course of events.
classification of combinations if the In such situations the pieces and
term “combination” is given differ¬ pawns of both sides seem to hang
ent interpretations. And at present on invisible threads. While obey¬
this is in fact the case. Browsing ing—like marionets—the will of the
through books on the theory of the player, they circled in the whirlpool
middle game we soon discover that of a strange “dance”. This original
every author has his own classifica¬ connection of pawns and pieces,
tion. This tends to confuse many which enabled one of the contes¬
who want to learn the middle game tants to regroup his pieces and
and to improve their skill. One of pawns in a certain manner, can be
the objectives I have set out to seen as a combination. But this de¬
achieve in this work is to introduce finition is too static. It lays stress on
some order into this rather con¬ the original position in which the
fused state of affairs. Above all I future, often surprising, events can
want to help you, the reader, to as¬ be deeply hidden and difficult to
cend the steps to chess mastery and understand rather than on the on¬
to acquire the art of combination, going course of events. It was there¬
which is seen as the pinnacle of fore not surprising that gradually
creative chess. the term “combination” ceased to
The word “combination”, as used in be used in connection with the start¬
our everyday speech, is derived ing position and with the original
from the Latin word “combineno”. connection of pieces and pawns,
In chess, the word combination despite the fact that its name derives
should be applied to connections of from it. One started using the term
pieces and pawns of the two oppos¬ to describe changes in connections
ing sides. You have seen on numer¬ between the pieces and pawns of
ous occasions that the most diverse both sides. But any regrouping of
and at times very remarkable con¬ pieces leads up to variants or even
nections of pieces can occur on the up to constellations of variants.
chessboard. Pioneers of chess the¬ Finally the following formulation
ory have tried to fathom the laws crystallized:”.. . if a constellation
governing the outwardly so plain of variants contains a positive result
chessmen from the very beginning that calls for attention, then the to¬
of our game’s development. Some tality of these variants is called a
positions involving different con¬ ‘combination1, and the player who

207
discovers such a variant and puts it a6 &d5 3 a7 &c6 4 a8(^) + etc.
into action is said to realize the But if it is Black’s turn to play, then
combination” (Em. Lasker, “Man¬ the king catches up with the pawn:
ual of Chess”, 1925), 1 . ..,Cfce4 2 a5 &d5 3 a6 &c6 4 a7
Somewhat later Romanovski pro¬ (Ijb7. In both cases the moves are
posed a more precise formulation of forced (the pawn flees, the king
Lasker’s definition: “A combination pursues it), and there is also an ob¬
is a variant (or a group of variants) jective (White wants to get his pawn
in the course of which both players queened. Black wants to stop it).
make forced moves and which end But for all that one can by no means
in an objective advantage for the ac¬ regard this elementary tactical op¬
tive side” (Romanovski: The Mid¬ eration, which could be called pur¬
dle Game, 1929). suit, as a combination, because the
You will note that both of these de¬ main ingredient, namely the con¬
finitions have been completely dis¬ nection is missing. The only thing
associated from the connection of we have here is a piece and a pawn
pieces and pawns, but they have re¬ changing their position, which does
tained two essential features con¬ not qualify for a connection, be¬
nected with the combination: the cause connection in the true sense
forced moves and the winning of an involves at least three objects.
advantage by the side carrying out
the combination.
But is such a definition not too
broad, especially in view of the fact
that it encompasses situations that
can hardly be seen as combinations?
Let us consider, for example, the
following position illustrating the
quadrangle rule.

White to play

The first player wins by not permit¬

ting the black king to gain control
of square b7:
1 &b3 &d4 2 &b4 &d5 3 &b5
&d6 4 &b6 &d7 5 &b7 &d6 6 a4
C&c5 7 a5 Ct)b5 8 a6 etc.
The sequence of moves in this end¬
game consists of two phases, both
If White is to play, his pawn reaches being characterized by forced
the queening square by 1 a5 (£e4 2 moves. In the first phase, a struggle

208
 flares up over the control of square
b7, in the second phase the pawn
advances to the queening square. In
the end White won an objective ad¬
vantage, having succeeded in
queening his pawn. Nevertheless,
this cannot be seen as a combina¬
tion either, because the essential
feature of a combination is the con¬
nection of pieces and pawns. But all
we had was the kings changing their
position in the first phase and a king
and pawn changing theirs in the
second.
I hope you will have acknowledged
the main deficiency in Lasker’s and
Romanovki’s definition. It is too
broad and covers many positions
which contain no combinations.
No wonder that this definition
prompted criticism from Botvinnik
as early as 1939, who proposed a
definition of his own, which at first
sight looked very clear and exact. It In both positions. White check¬
is generally accepted that in posi¬ mates his opponent in three moves,
tions giving rise to combinations the in the first by 1 Sa8 + &b8(£lb8)
values of pieces undergo a complete 2 S xb8+ £l xb8(&xb8)3
change. In such positions we readily 2 d8 mate, in the second by 1
sacrifice material to achieve our ob¬ 2a8 + 2b8(l . .. S)b82 2d&
jectives. For this reason Botvinnik mate) 2 2 x b8 + £) x b8 3 2 d8
used the sacrifice as the basis of his mate.
definition. “The combination is a According to Botvinnik, the first
forced variant with sacrifices,” is position contains a combination,
how he put it. Botvinnik’s sugges¬ but not the second,because only an
tion was accepted by the chess com¬ exchange—not a sacrifice—occurs
munity with applause, but later it in it. But it is not necessary to prove
was found that this definition is not that basically there is no difference
perfect either. Let us examine the between the two positions. Both po¬
following two positions for in¬ sitions end in mate, the mating me¬
stance. chanism being the same in both
cases (the king is mated by a rook
supported by a bishop), the black
pawn making a confining contact in

209
both positions. The only difference R. Red, 1922
is in the way the mate ending is in¬ Conclusion of a study
itiated : In the first case White sacri¬
fices an exchange in order to divert
Black’s pieces from the defence of
square d8, in the second case the
knight is diverted either by an at¬
tack (if Black’s knight moves to b8)
or by an exchange (if the rook
moves to b8). As we shall show the
sacrifice is the strongest means of
forcing moves, but there are also
other means available in tactical
clashes, such as threats, attacks, Black to play
double attacks and exchanges.
To tell the truth, another reason that In essence this move is a typical
I don’t like Botvinnik’s definition is double attack. White threatens to
because he depreciates the end¬ intercept Black’s pawn while giving
game and makes it appear less chal¬ support to his own. Black is power¬
lenging than the middle game to less against this double attack. The
many chess enthusiasts. It is gen¬ ensuing contacts are marked in the
erally known that sacrifices occur diagram, namely a protective con¬
much more rarely in the end-game tact (threatening to support the
than in the middle game. But Bot¬ white pawn) and a confining con¬
vinnik’s formulation creates the im¬ tact (threatening to intercept the
pression—intentionally or not—that black pawn). An interrelation has
combinations are rare in the end¬ come into being between the king
game. And many end-game studies and the two pawns, and this is tan¬
have been devoted to this view. But tamount to a combination on the
is it true? In an article “On the ques¬ subject of double attack. As you
tion of defining the combination” know, this combination is basically
Botvinnik quotes a well-known the same thing as a common “fork”,
study by R£ti and maintains chat it the only difference being that in the
is devoid of any combinations and case of a "fork” there are normally
that tt contains merely an impres¬ two attacks, here we have two
sive manoeuvre. I believe this asser¬ threats.
tion to be wrong. We have dis¬ Those who accept our conclusion
cussed this study of Reti’s in depth will concede that Botvinnik’s defini¬
in the first part of the book, and at tion is too narrow. It fails to cover
this point let me only call to mind many positions which have all the
the position that results towards the features of combinations. Botvinnik
end of its solution after (J?f6—e5! is right only to the extent that mid¬
dle game combinations are often ac-

210
companied by sacrifices. But the ing of a pawn. The ending of a
sacrifice is not a determining factor, drawing combination, on the other
it is only an attendant circumstance hand, can be a stalemate, perpetual
of a combination. It would be incor¬ check, fortification, blockade, etc.
rect, for instance, to say that a com¬ We have made a thorough analysis
bination is involved every time there of these endings on pages 178 to
is a sacrifice. After all, we are famil¬ 206 and found that all of them are
iar with sacrifices made for the sake characterized by a co-ordinated
of initiative or of development, etc., connection of contacts. Thus we
which can by no means be regarded may formulate the definition as fol¬
as combinations. The converse of lows:
this—where combinations are made A combination is a rearrangement
there have to be sacrifices—does not of the connection of pieces of both
hold true either, of course. sides, which forces a co-ordinated
From all this it follows that, of the connection of contacts, which is ad¬
two definitions of the combination vantageous to one side.*
we have, one is too broad and the We shall need the definition of this
other too narrow. But the two can term for classifying combinations.
easily be fused into a third which We shall notice that despite the
seems to us to be the most exact large number of different combina¬
one. Before acquainting you with tions, it is very easy to classify them
the unified formulation, I should according to the final connection of
[ike to point out that in seeking a contacts.
definition of the term "combina¬ Another question that arises in con¬
tion” it would be methodically un¬ nection with the definition of a
acceptable to start out from the ori¬ combination is whether or not it
ginal point of departure, i. e. from should take into account aesthetic
the semantic meaning of the word- factors. Some authors are in favour
connection, chain of moves, var¬ of this, arguing that combinations
iant—because variants reflect appeal to our aesthetic feelings and
changes of position of pieces and are often accompanied by effective,
pawns, i. e. changes in their connec¬ beautiful and unexpected moves.
tions. But in combinations, the con¬ But I am of the opinion that we can
nection of some pieces of both sides neglect this aspect. The combina¬
leads to a forced final connection tion has to be objective and it
which is characterized by the fact should be based on positional fea¬
that one of the two opponents gains tures. The beauty of a combination
an objective advantage. And that is on the other hand is a purely subjec¬
basically a definition, it only has to tive factor, being influenced by per¬
be formulated with greater preci¬ sonal taste and views as well as by
sion. We know that the ending of a the system of assessment used. A
winning combination can be mate, combination can be elementary,
the capture of a piece or the queen¬ common or purely technical, but

211
even if it fails to fascinate one it is L The attack
still a combination. The only thing
to be said against such combina¬
By attacking a lone piece we can
tions is that they win no beauty
force it to retreat and occupy
prizes.
squares we warn it to occupy. The
following examples show how the
attack can be used as a means of
Various means conjuring up a mate ending.
of applying force
A. Herbstman, 1945
The pieces involved in playing out a Conclusion of a study
combination are not only one’s
own, but also those of one’s oppo¬
nent—and not only as objects of at¬
tack. These pieces can sometimes
play a negative, confining role, de¬
serting, as it were, their own ranks
and coming over to fight on our
side. We have already come across
such situations in studying the co¬
ordination of piece games. Now we
want to find out what means we can
use to force our opponent’s pieces White to play and win
to come over to our side. How can
we make them help us in achieving White can take the pawn at g6, but
our objectives or at least prevent by so doing he allows Black’s knight
them from interfering? We shall be to regain its freedom, and the in¬
dealing with this question in the significant material advantage can¬
present chapter. We shad examine not be converted. The winning
various means of forcing enemy move is 1 f3! In this manner White
pieces to occupy those squares we hems in the knight well tn advance
want them to occupy or to neglect and prepares for a mate ending. Af¬
important defence tasks. You know ter the only possible reply 1 ...
of course that attacks and threats of £}h6+ White launches a double at¬
all kinds, exchanges and Zugzwang tack whith 2 x g6, threatening
are such means of applying force, the knight, and if 2 ... £lg8 then
but the most lasting effects are he threatens mate by 3 £lf7.
achieved with sacrifices.
Let us examine these means in the
order mentioned.

212
 S. Bimov By playing 1 <£>g2 &g4 2 B d6! and
Conclusion of a study thereby threatening a double at¬
tack, White prevented his opponent
from playing 2 . . . &f4. Instead,
.Black answered with 2 ... £)h7.
This is followed by 3 (S)f2 {i?f4 4
B h6! This move is actually a triple
attack. White attacks the knight,
prepares for the double attack 4 ...
&f8 5 Bf6 + and if 4 .. . &g5
suddenly makes the third threat by
5 Bh4mate!

White to play and win Kasparyan’s study also shows a

marvellous mate finish.
White attacks the knight by 1 (i>c3
and forces it to retreat 1 . . . £)a6. G. Kasparyan, 1961
This is followed by 2 S b 1 +. Once
again we see a double attack, the
bishop attacking the knight at a8
and the rook assaulting the king.
The only way to evade the attack
and to cover the knight is by playing
2 ... C£>a7, but then White check¬
mates his opponent’s king by 3
Bb7. " ’

As can be seen in the following

study, occasionally mate endings
occur unexpectedly. White to play and win

A. Gurvitchy 1958 First of all White gets a double at¬

tack going by 1 I&c5+ (2?a6 2 &c2.
Black defends himself by 2 ...
B b5 + 3 &c4 A c7. Then White,
by different manoeuvres, forces
Black’s pieces to move to squares
from which they impede their king’s
movements: 4 #a4 + B a5 5
^ c6 + & b6, to deliver the irrefut¬
able final blow 6 & c8.

White to play and win

213
H. Rinck, 1924 Zita—Bronstein
Vienna 1957

Black to play
Here White forces his opponent’s
pieces to take up ineffective posi¬ The second player can immediately
tions by a series of rook attacks, unleash a double attack, but it is not
winning an advantage in material in sufficiently effective yet, because
the end. White’s reply to 1 . , . 0f2+ is 2
1 Sa7&fl(l . ,.&c8 2 Oa8)2 d4. But Black found a way of in¬
Ba2 &h83 Oa8 + !<dbg7 4 Sal, creasing its effectiveness. He
and the bishop f 1 finds no free played:
square to move to.
Black’s black-square bishop moved 1 .. .c6!2 Sd4. . .
to h8 in order to avoid any unfore¬ He has no choice; any other reply
seen complications. White managed loses immediately,
to neutralize it and to capture the
other bishop. But Black did not 2 ... c5! 3 0d5 0f2 + , and White
have a better option. If, for in¬ resigned.
stance, 2 .. . Scl, then 3 Sf2 with
a double attack (attack on fl plus Capabla nca ~~Marshall
threatened 4 £ld3 +). If, on the New York 1909
other hand, 2 . . . ££f6, then 3 0f2
&e7 + 4 &>b3 £kb5 5 £)d5+ &e8
6 £)c7 + . And finally, if 2 .. . &g7,
then White again plays 3 0f2, and
after 3 ... &a6 4 £e6 + &g8 3
0 g2, capturing the bishop at g7.

Not to arouse the impression that

attack is used as a means of forcing
moves only in problems, I should
like to include two examples from
actual games.

214
The white castle’s posting at a4 is White’s pieces ominously converge
not exactly good, but the first on the black king, but for the time
player is confident that he can re¬ being there is no mate in sight. And
fute the Black bishop’s attack by 2 without the white king’s support
&b5. But Black harassed the rook there can be no mate. For this rea¬
by J , . .&d7 2&b5&f5!Letus son;
try to unravel the motives behind
1 &a5!!...
this move. It is easy enough to see
that the effect produced by this Unintimidated by the pawn which is
move is a very lasting one indeed. about to queen, White’s king is in¬
Black has lured the bishop to b5 in tent on establishing a protective
order to win a tempo, retreat and contact with his pieces. Two threats
attack the other rook. At the same suddenly loom large after this
time he threatens to drive away the move: 2 £)d4+ <2}a7 3 £|b5 mate
bishop by a7—a6 in order to move and 2 £)e7+ d)a7 3 £)c8 mate.
his bishop back to d7 and to win the But we must not forget that Black
exchange after all. There is no de¬ can queen and give check at the
fence, After 3 B b2 a6!4 i&e2 ^d7, same time!
Black obtained a decisive material
1 . . .el(«SJ) + 2 (t)b6!...
advantage thanks to his combina¬
tion. A unique position! Black has mate¬
rial superiority, but White has a
whole handful of threats to com¬
2. The threat
pensate for it. That is why Black is
Experience shows that a strong unable to defend himself against
mate in one move. Apart from mov¬
threat is just as dangerous as an at¬
tack. The following delightful prob¬ ing the knight at c7, any move with
lem demonstrates the power threats the knight at c6 results in mate. But
can have. Black cannot refute all threats with
a single move.
C. Kipping It is interesting to note that 1 &b5
would not have led to mate in three
moves, because Black could have
defended himself by 1 ... Bg8 2
{i}b6 Bc8. On the other hand, 1
dba5 2g8 is followed by 2 £ld4 +
^>a7 3 £)b5 mate.

And here is a study that reveals the

power of the threat.

215
G. Nadareishvili, 1947 H. Rinck, 1921

The forces of the two sides are bal¬

White seems to be unable to gain
anced, but thanks to the active post¬
the upper hand because the two
ing of his pieces, White succeeds in
sides are approximately level. But
creating decisive mating threats.
his first move initiates a double at¬
tack which immediately puts Black 1 0e7 + ...
in a critical situation.
In principle this is a double attack,
1 Ac3!!... because one rook trains its sights at
the hostile rook and the other at the
The rook finds no free squares on
king. Since the black rooks cover
the fifth rank, because 1 ... 0 g5 is
each other, the rook cannot be in¬
followed by the decisive 2 £) e6 +,
terposed to shield the king, and the
whilst 1 ... 0d5 by 2 £)f5+ C£>g8
latter has to retreat.
3 e7 +. Hoping for better luck on
the eighth rank Black plays 1 .. .&h8 2<&h61. . .

1 . . . Oa8 2<£b7 0f8 A fresh double attack. Keeping the

rook atd8under fire, White threat¬
With considerable difficulties, the
ens to give mate with the other rook
rook managed to shake off its assai¬
at h7. Since 2 ... 0 gf8 is out of the
lants, But by so doing it blocked a
question because of 3 0h7+ l£>g8
square that was vital for the king, so
4 S gl mate, Black has but one re-
that a familiar mating connection
ply.
comes into being after 3 £) f5 +
<3?g8 4 £lh6 mate. 2 ... Sge8 3 Hdd7!...

A threat against which there is no

defence. The following finish is
conceivable: 3 .. . (£>g8 4 Sg7 +
<£>h8 5 0h7 + Ct?g8 6 0dg7 +
<dbf8 7 0h8 mate.

216
 In this position too White succeeds 7 . . . al(&) 8 0af6 mate.
in entangling the opponent's king in
Now let us see what happens if in
a mating net with the aid of threats.
the third move the king had moved
,
A, Votava 1952
to c6.

4 0c8+ &b7

If 4 . . . {£?b6, then 5 0 X a2 bl(^f)

6 0 b8 +, whilst 4 ... *^d6 is fol¬
lowed by 5 0 ac5! (t?e6 6 <£?e8 d?f6
7 08c6+ &g7 8 0g5+ &h7 9
^*f7 with mate on the next move.

5 0b5 + ! &a7 6 (£?c7! al(&) 7

0b7+ &a6 8 Sa8 mate.

It is fascinating to see how White

White to play and win manages to set up a mating mechan¬
ism at different ends of the board
Black's pawns look impressive. But through threats.
White's attacking potential is even
greater.
3. The exchange
1 0 ha5!...

An immediate mating threat. The The exchange is an important

king has to flee. means of exerting force in combina¬
tional engagements. In this way one
1 . . , (£?c6 2 (i?c8 (again the threat)
can, for instance, liquidate hostile
2 , , . <£>d6 3 <£>d8 &e6.
pieces that have defensive functions
We shall examine the possibility of by exchanges, thereby establishing
the king’s return to c6 after analys¬ mating connections.
ing this line of play. The following study provides an ex¬
ample.
4 08a6+ !&f7 5 0f5+ <£>g7 6
0g5+ <t>f7

If 6 .. . &h7, then 7 0 X a2!

b 1 (&) 8 0h2 mate. But at this
point Black’s king is caught in the
mating net.

7 0gg6!...

The confining contacts have been

established. All White has to do is
deliver the decisive blow.

217
G. Kaspaiyan, 1959 A. Guru itch, 1929
Conclusion of a study Conclusion of a study

White to play and win

\ &e3l£c6
First of all White encages the bishop
The only defence against the bishop
by 1 B h7 and forces Black’s king to
check that follows.
move off: 1 ... ^f6. He then cuts
off its retreat by 2 <&f4. For the time 2 £&c5+ £lb4 3 £)d3 a5
being the rookcheck'at h6 does not
Everything is adequately protected
look very dangerous, because Black
on Black’s side. White’s attack
can interpose the bishop at g6. But
seems to have petered out. But its
how should he continue? He tries to
successful continuation lies in the
launch a counterattack by 2 ...
exchange.
0 b7. But White is on guard: 3
£&c4! A precise move. If White had 4& xb4+ * ab 5 Bh8 Be6
played 3 & x f7, Black would have
A different line of defence is not in
forced the king aside by 3 ...
sight. After 5 . , . b2 6 B a8 + (£>b3
Bb4 + . But if Black goes 3 ...
7 £lc5 + Black’s rook falls prey to a
B a7, then 4 £l d6 and White wins a
fork.
piece. Hence 3 ... Bd7, but this is
followed by 4 x f7. The ex¬ 6 Ba8+ Ba6 7 B x a6+ !...
change of bishops decides the game
With this outwardly inconspicuous
here: 4 ... B x f7 5 Bh6 mate.
move White sets up an instructive
Sometimes it is possible to build up
mating mechanism in which pawns
a mating mechanism through ex¬
are at fault for alt confining con¬
change operations.
tacts.

7 . . .ba8 £b2!a5 9&al . ..

In the end it is Zugzwang that de¬

cides the game. Black is forced to
shut the lid of his own coffin.

218
 ......>Sij|J|iiiiiiiijj|l!iiiijll!!iiiili!!

9 ... a4 10 £)c4 mate. We should add that White would

have given mate in a similar manner
Occasionally the king or some
after 4 ... <£hl: 5 x f2 x h2 6
other enemy piece can be steered to
£g4+ !<£hl 7&fl h2 8 £lf2
a bad square through exchange.
mate.

,
G. Bagdasaryan 1938
4. Zugzwang
In the two preceding examples we
have seen how Zugzwang is used to
create a mating mechanism. And
now I should like to acquaint you
with perhaps one of the most im¬
pressive examples of Zugzwang.

/. Sebwers, 1902
Conclusion of a study

There is no obvious way for White

to win. Black's king threatens to
move to g2, to drive off the bishop
and to advance the pawn to the
queening square. For this reason the
first moves might seem somewhat
odd, for White goads Black's king
precisely where Black himself wants
to have him.

1 £e3 + <&g3 2 £lfl + <&g2 3

Ah2!&f2 Black has superiority in material,
but the whole extent of his tragi¬
White has forced the knight to va¬
comic situation comes to light after
cate the comer. But now comes the
1 £)c3 + C2?cl 2 £)c5! He is in
crucial manoeuvre:
Zugzwang and has no defence
4 £e3 + ! x h2 5 x f2 <&hl against the mate by the knight at b3
or d3.
Let us recapitulate. By exchanging
An ingenious position.
the bishop for the knight White has
pushed the opponent’s king in front In the next study, Black’s queen
of the pawn and now he gets set to bears the main responsibility for the
give mate by Zugzwang. mate, although it spares no effort to
protect the king.
6 £)fl h2 7£g3 mate.

219
H. Rinck, 1917 /. Halim birek1930

1 ^ff4! Black can opt for two lines

White starts out by chasing the op¬ of play;
ponent’s king.
(a) 1 ... &a6 2 b4 &a7 3 ^ff8
1 &c7+ &a8 2 &a5+ <£>b7 3 <£>a6 4 i^fa8 mate;
£c5 + &b8 4 ^b6 + <£>c8 5
(b) 1 ...b4 2^fl!b5 3&f6b6 4
^fb7+ &d8 6&d2!... i^fal mate.
Up till now Black has only been
Zugzwang is a very effective instru¬
making individual or forced moves, ment of attack and defence in the
all other responses would have end-game. I should like to show
brought an early loss. And suddenly you two more examples in which it
he is given freedom of movement.
effects a certain co-ordinated con¬
But this freedom is deceptive. Black nection of pieces and pawns, which
has to keep square d7 covered and
puts the side using it at an advan¬
the only answer he has is 6 ... tage.
i^fe7. Of all the moves this is the
one that creates a confining con¬ O. Duras, 1908
tact, which enables White to give
mate by 7 I^fb8,

Here is a position in which all of

White’s operations are aimed at
prompting his opponent to make
disadvantageous moves. In the pro¬
cess, confining contacts are estab¬
lished by the pawns, which literally
provoke a final coup.

220
Will Black’s king succeed in reach¬ To pin the king in the corner for
ing the corner a8 ? This would be his good, White transposes his bishop
only chance of achieving a draw. to a6. Now Black is in Zugzwang.
The queen has to dodge to a square
1 &b4! <£f7 2 a4 <£e6 3 a5 &d5 4
from which it can control a6.
a6 <£c6 5 &a5!
3 .. .&c84&b6!...
In this manner White creates the
strange mechanism by which he Now Black has to reckon with 5
cuts off Black’s king from the & a6. There is only one line of play
square a8. Black is in Zugzwang. for him that prevents the bishop
The d-pawn’s advance is checked from moving to a6, namely 4 ...
by White’s king. As soon as this i&b7 +. But after 5 d?c5 Black is
happens Black’s king has to step again in Zugzwang and the game is
aside and White’s pawn proceeds to drawn.
the queening square. An attempt by
As regards sacrifices, I propose to
the king to approach along the
deal with them in a chapter devoted
eighth rank would also have been
exclusively to this subject in order
frustrated: 2 ... (£>e8 3 a5 (£>d8 4
to analyse all its aspects.
J^d6 (£>c8 5 a6 and Black is again in
Zugzwang.

Kinds of sacrifice
H. Rinck, 1948

One can force the opponent’s

pieces by threats, attacks, ex¬
changes or Zugzwang situations to
support one’s plan. But in the mid¬
dle game such attempts can usually
be refuted by the enemy if he sees
through our plans early enough.
The situation is altogether different
in the case of sacrifices, which have
a strong element of force. The main
advantage of a sacrifice is that it oc¬
curs suddenly and at least the oppo¬
nent is usually caught by surprise.
The unfavourable posting of This is due mainly to the fact that
Black’s pieces enables White to we tend to think in terms of more or
drive the opponent’s king into the less fixed values of the pieces and to
corner. forget that such values are relative.
In the heat of the battle we often fail
I £)b4 + &a7 2 £c6+ &a8 3 to bear in mind that the values of
&e2!. . . pieces are variable.

221
The importance of a certain chess¬
man in a limited conflict at a parti¬
cular time is determined to a great
extent by the part it plays in the op¬
eration to be carried out. No sacri¬
fice in material is too great when we
mount an offensive against the
king’s fortifications if we are con¬
vinced that we will checkmate the
king or recover our material losses
with interest. The same holds true
for any other tactical operation. If a
certain combination promises to Black’s king is in a quandary, but its
give us an advantage, we stop at no defence still seems to be intact, for
sacrifice, provided our calculation if White should attack by 1 b3 + the
shows that we shall recover every¬ king can retreat to a3. But White
thing and end up with an advan¬ spots a weak point in Black’s de¬
tage. The problem is that we have to
fence system. First he sacrifices his
give something first before we can rook: 1 S a3 +! The purpose of this
recover it, which means that such move is to deprive the hostile king
operations always entail a risk. If of its only remaining free square.
our calculations are wrong, it is un¬ Having forced his opponent to ac¬
likely that we shall make good our cept the sacrifice by 1 ... ba, White
losses. This means that any opera¬ gives mate by 2 b3. What White did
tion involving a sacrifice has to be was force the pawn to occupy
calculated with great precision and square a3, thereby making it inac¬
sometimes far in advance.
cessible for the black king. Such
Sacrifices can play a part in a wide sacrifices are termed decoy sacri¬
variety of plans, but their main pur¬ fices and the operation itself is
pose is to disorganize enemy de¬ called decoy. In the case in hand,
fences or to neutralize them alto¬ White used a simple mating combi¬
gether. It happens occasionally that nation based on a decoy sacrifice.
our forces cooperate well, but to
achieve full success it is necessary to Here is another example of a decoy
weaken or eliminate enemy de¬ sacrifice.
fences. This is where the sacrifice
comes in handy. The following ex¬
amples illustrate how this is done.

222
H. Otten, 1892 F. Amelung
Conclusion of a study Conclusion of a study

Black to play
White to play

What line should Black take? Odds

White’s pawn is heading for the seem to be stacked heavily against
queening square, but Black plans to his building up a defensive system.
intercept it at a6 by 1 . ..S&e3. But his situation is not as hopeless
Should White decide co go 1 (£*e4, as it looks. He launches an effective
Black can play 1 ... &f8. White attack by 1 ... J&e7 + ! With this
unexpectedly goes 1 g5+! In this move Black threatens to make two
manner he manages to confuse d ouble attacks: If 2 x e7 then
Black’s defence. After 1 ... {2? :g5 2 ... £lc6 +, but if 2 & x e7, then
the bishop’s diagonal is blocked and 2 .. . £lg6 +. This means that
the pawn can advance unmolested. White’s king has to retreat to e8,
If Black chooses to take the pawn but then the bishop returns and
with his bishop by 1 ... & x g5, threatens to build up an impreg¬
White answers with 2 {£*e4! I^h4 3 nable fortress by 3 ... £kg7. After 2
(i?f3} and again the bishop is unable QeS A.f6 3 {i?f8 ^e7 + ! the game
to stop the pawn. ends in a draw through repetition.
Sometimes the decoy sacrifice oc¬
curs only as a threat.

223
First of all White goads the rook to This antique position shows how
square g8 by 1 ^fh6 (mating threat) White manages to break through
and then by sacrificing his queen by and get a pawn queened. He does
playing 2 x h7 + ! he demolishes this by making two decoy sacrifices.
his opponent’s fortifications. The The first sacrifice, 1 b6!, serves to
game ends with mate after 2 ... steer either the a-pawn or the c-
x h7 3 0h2. This was an exam¬ pawn to the adjacent file. If Black
ple of a destructive sacrifice. Its pur¬ plays 1 ... ab, White sacrifices his
pose was to eliminate the protection second pawn by 2 c6, thereby di¬
of the enemy king—in this case the verting the b-pawn from his task of
pawn at h7. controlling the square a6. After
2 ... be the a-pawn gets the green
light to proceed to the queening
square.
These examples illustrate that the
defence can be eliminated or
thrown into disarray by two kinds
of sacrifice, i. e. decoy sacrifices and
disorganizing sacrifices. But sacri¬
fices can be not only destructive but
also constructive and they can pro¬
mote the co-ordination of forces,
Mate in three moves
which is such an essential factor.

1 Jskf8 + &h5 2i& xh5+!gh3

0 h6 mate.

This is an example of a decoy sacri¬

fice. By sacrificing the queen at h5,
White has diverted the pawn g6
from securing the square h6.

C. Cozio, 1766

White to play

Here White forces mate in two

moves: 1 0e8 + (2? x e8 2 ^e7
mate. The decoy sacrifice enables
White to co-ordinate the operations
of his pieces (knight and queen)
against the king and to establish a
mating contact.

224
L Kubbel, 192 ; The first move is very difficult and
Conclusion of a study quite surprising:

1 <&d7!...

With this move White prepares to

make the necessary connection of
pieces.

1 . . .&e4 2 Sd5!.. .

This decoy puts the dot on the i.

2 .. ,<&xd53 &d4 mate.

Occasionally one’s own pieces im¬

pede the co-ordination of forces.
One can dispense with such pieces
of course by sacrificing them.
In this position White uses the post¬ Here is an elementary case.
ing of the black pieces to his advan¬
tage and forces mate by a decoy —
Reisch Troyanski
sacrifice. Sofia 1969
1 ^a3 + ! £?? x a3 (otherwise Black
loses his queen) 2 £)c2 mate.

The useof the decoy sacrifice for

co-ordinating one’s forces also oc¬
curs quite frequently in problems.
This idea is very lucidly expressed
in the following old miniature.

F. Healey, 1902

If it were not for the knight at e5,

Black could force mate by moving
the bishop to e5. He has no qualms
about parting with his knight of
course:
1 . ..£)f3+!2&xf3&e5 + ,and
White resigned.
In this case the sole purpose of the
sacrifice was to vacate a square. I
should point out, however, that this

225
square played a very important squares, ranks, files or diagonals
part, because it was from here that are known as vacating sacrifices.
the bishop attacked the king,
There is yet another kind of sacri¬
thereby taking part in a co-ordi¬
fice shown in the following exam¬
nated connection of rook, pawn
ple.
and queen.
We have thus got to know a further
kind of sacrifice, namely the vacat¬ Marshall—MacClure
ing sacrifice. Vacating sacrifices can New York 1923
also be used to open a blocked rank,
file or diagonal to enable a piece to
carry out a certain task.

The next example illustrates such a

situation.

Manov—Kbairabedyan
Bulgarian 1962

Here, White saves himself surpri¬

singly by destroying his own rook
and pawn.

1 Sh6! S xh6 2 h8(#)+ S Xh8

3b5!

And Black is unable to avert the

stalemate set up by his opponent.
The sacrifice of a rook and a pawn
If we remove the bishop at h5 and
witnessed in the foregoing can be
the two Black rooks, the second
called a self-destructive sacrifice.
player can mate White in two
This kind of sacrifice frequently oc¬
moves by giving check with his
curs when a player tries to get a
queen at h8. It is not difficult to get
stalemate. The so-called "rabid”
rid of the pieces mentioned.
piece certainly belongs to the cate¬
1 . . . &e2!2&xe2 Sh8 + 3 gory of self-destructive sacrifices. It
{fcgl Shi + ! 4xhi Sh8+ 5 is characterized by repeated acts of
<£>gl Shl + !6&xhn&h8+ 7 self-sacrifice.
<&gl l&h2 mate.
And here is a somewhat more com¬
Such sacrifices designed to vacate plex case of self-destruction.

226
Ormos—Batoczky decoy sacrifice in which an oppo¬
Budapest 1951 nent’s piece (or pawn) is diverted
from fulfilling a certain defence
task; 3.The destructive sacrifice, in
which the opponent’s fortifications
are smashed by pieces or pawns; 4.
The vacating sacrifice, in which
squares, diagonals, ranks or files
are vacated, which are of crucial
importance for operations by pieces
of the sacrificing player; 5. The self-
destructive sacrifice, in which the
sacrificing player lets his unwanted
pieces be taken or in which he has
no choice but let them be taken.
The second player’s position looks
All these kinds of sacrifice arc en¬
critical—his king cannot move.
countered in practical chess. But
Black takes advantage of this predi¬
sometimes it happens that a single
cament to save himself through
sacrifice can have several or even all
stalemate by a scries of self-destruc¬
of these functions at once.
tive sacrifices.

1 . . . Sbl+ 2&h2 Shi+ ! (the

rook commits suicide) 3 (£> x hi
£lg3 + ! (so does the knight; it has
to be taken, otherwise the queen is
lost) 4 fg l^f x g2 + ! (the last sacri¬
fice puts everything right) 5 (£) x g2,
and Black is stalemated!

It is time to draw some conclusions

now. We have seen that the sacrifice
can be resorted to for disorganizing
or eliminating the defence just as ef¬
fectively as for co-ordinating for¬ White gives mate in two moves by
ces. There are different kinds of sacrificing his queen: 1 1^fc6 + dc 2
sacrifice: we have examined five £)a6 mate. First this sacrifice steers
main categories of sacrifice occur¬ the pawn (or the bishop at e4) to
ring in combination. Let us list them square c6 after which it becomes in¬
again briefly: accessible to the king, and secondly
1. The decoy sacrifice in which an it vacates square a6 for the mating
opponent’s piece (or pawn) is move with the knight. It is a combi¬
steered to a certain square; 2. The nation of decoy sacrifice and vacat¬
ing sacrifice.

227
P. Romanovski, 1950 The first player conjures up a com¬
bination based on a sacrifice.

1 £)d7 C£>h8 2 £)f6! Bgf8 3

Sxg7!...

White smashes the opponent’s de¬

fence and at the same time lures the
black rook to f6.

3 .. . B X f6 4 C£>e5! Black resigns,

because 4 . . . Bff8 or 4 ... Baf8
is followed by mate in two moves.

The move 3 B X g7! is a combination

of decoy and destructive sacrifice.
Here too White forces mate in two
moves: Gogolev— Vanhavski
Aluksne 1967
1 &f8 + !! S x f8 2 £e7 mate or
1 ... x f8 2 Sh8 mate.

By sacrificing the queen White

either steers the Black rook to
square f8, thereby diverting it from
covering the square e7, or he lures
the king to f8 as a result of which it
relinquishes control of square h8.
This is an example of an intimate
combination of the two kinds of de¬
coy sacrifice.
Black to play
Alekhine— Yates
London 1922 Black’s prospects seem gloomy, but
he manages to achieve a draw by
stalemate.

1 .. . B d3 + ! 2 & x d3 (White has

to accept the sacrifice because if he
plays 2 ££>g4 ^fdl + he actually
loses) 2 .. . ^fe3 + ! 3 x e3 stale¬
mate.

How can these two sacrifices be

classified? The first one is obviously
a self-destructive sacrifice, at the
same time it is designed to keep the

228
 litiHiiiiitiiiiiimiiimlliii

queen in the vicinity of square e3 Let us work our way through this
for the sake of the second sacrifice, maze. By 1 £)b4 White eliminated
i. e. it is also a decoy sacrifice. The his knight. This is a vacating sacri¬
second sacrifice is particularly fasci¬ fice which opens the d-file for the
nating. The queen sacrifice at e3 White queen. Move 2 & x d6 is a
not only destroys itself, but also destructive sacrifice. The knight at
steers the opponent’s queen onto d 6 controls the break-through
this square from which the pawn g5 square e8 and has to be eliminated
is pinned. All conditions have now for this reason. The queen cannot
been met for stalemate. be taken because of the mate in
This example illustrated a combina¬ three moves after 2 .. . S x d6 3
tion of decoy and self-destructive Se8 + Sf8 4 S xg7+ <£>h8 5
sacrifice. S x f8 mate. No doubt the most
beautiful move in the combination
Involved combinations may involve
is 3 t&d5! The queen is again unas¬
all in one sacrifice.
sailable, but White threatens 4
S x g7 + . If Black had continued
Kortcbma r—Polya k with 3 ... g6. White would have
Kiev 1937 countered by 4 Sge3! with an un¬
avoidable penetration to e8.This is
why Black was forced to retreat
with his king to f8. The thrust 4
S x g7! is at once a destructive sac¬
rifice and a diversion sacrifice, be¬
cause if 4 . . . S x g7, then Black’s
rook is pinned and White can retal¬
iate by 5 & x d 7. And finally, 5
Og8+ is an example of a decoy
sacrifice: By luring the king to
square g8, White diverts it from its
task of covering square e8.
We can thus count a total of four
d ifferent kinds of sacrifice in this
The white pieces converge omin¬
combination: a vacating sacrifice, a
ously on the enemy king, whose life
destructive sacrifice, a diversion
hangs on a thread. The following
sacrifice and a decoy sacrifice. Our
combination proves the truth of the
examination of sacrifices covered
saying “A chain is only as strong as
mainly those that paid out in full at
its weakest link”.
the end of the combination. Some
1 £b4!ab2&xd6!&d73&d5!! authors refer to such sacrifices as
&f8 4 S xg7!&xd5 5 Og8+! dummy sacrifices.
<£>xg8 65e8 + with mate on next But there are also other kinds of
move. sacrifice. There are those that are

229
made to wrest the initiative from the This position evolved from the
opponent, those designed to speed following opening moves:
up one's development, sacrifices
1 £)f3 £)f6 2 c4 c5 3 £c3 e6 4 g3 b6
made to impede mobilization of
5 £g2&b7 6 0-0 a6 7b3 d6 8
hostile forces and others.
&b2 £bd7 9 Sel Sb8 10 e4 b5 11
They are normally referred to as
d3b4.
“true” sacrifices, because they do
not pay straight away or at least not Having noticed that by taking the
very soon. The only thing they offer initiative on the Queen’s side Black
are certain advantages that may was far behind in development,
eventually, but not necessarily, lead White boldly played 12 £)d5!
to a perceptible advantage. True The purpose of the sacrifice is to
sacrifices are usually motivated by open the e-filc, although for the
strategical considerations and con¬ present it does not herald a combi¬
stitute an integral part of the long¬ nation. But after 12 . .. ed 13 ed +
term plan of the game, although £ke7 14 i&e2 it is clear that Black
they can also give rise to tactical in¬ will have a hard time to solve his de¬
volvements and combinations. True velopment problems. His pieces are
sacrifices sometimes occur in the in¬ very constricted by contrast with
itial stages of the game, e. g. in White, who has a manifest advan¬
King’s Gambit, Evans Gambit, Si¬ tage in time and full freedom of
cilian Gambit, Muzio Gambit, Ale- movement.
khine-Chatard Gambit and in many The study of true sacrifices is a sub¬
other sharp openings and systems. ject all to itself. You might be inter¬
Let us conclude this chapter with a ested to know that Ljubojevic was
true sacrifice, which occurred in the overwhelmed by the mounting diffi¬
final stages of a quiet and balanced culties of defence and lost.
opening.

Sm eikal—Ljubqjevic
Moscow 1977
Classification
of combinations

The combination is one of the most

fascinating, but at the same time
most difficult elements of the game.
Like any other complex manifesta¬
tion, it can be characterized by a
number of different features. One
could try, for instance, to classify
combinations according to the com¬
parative strength at the beginning
White to play of a combination, but such a char-

230
acterization would be too formal certain to end in a draw and lastly
and divorced from the true essence fortified positions or blockades.
of the combination. This is a rough sketch of the plan
A classification based on those mo¬ used at present for classifying com¬
tives and circumstances that deter¬ binations. Most authors of books
mine the genesis of a combination dealing with the middle game try to
in its incipient stages seems very make further sub-divisions of the
tempting, but it would be very diffi¬ various groups. A distinction is of¬
cult to implement such a classifica¬ ten made for instance between com¬
tion. Such things are usually more binations ending in mate on the last
complicated than they look on the rank and those in which mate oc¬
surface. In fact they often lie so curs on a file or diagonal. But there
deep that even a well-trained eye is is no general agreement on this
unable to perceive them. question and we shall not go into it.
In classifying combinations one I believe that the classification of
usually starts out from the final po¬ combinations according to the ob¬
sition of a combination that has ful¬ jective into winning and drawing
filled its purpose. If we classify com¬ combinations is fully justifiable.
binations on the basis of the objec¬ First such a classification gives an
tive achieved, it is easy to break exact description of the tasks set
them down into two main groups: and secondly, it enables studies to
combinations in which one side be automatically included in this
wins and combinations in which classification, which are differen¬
one side manages to achieve a draw. tiated on the basis of this character¬
They are commonly referred to as istic. We should not forget of
winning combinations and drawing course that combinations designed
combinations, respectively. Win¬ to win material or to bring about
ning combinations are normally material balance with a view to
broken down further into two sub¬ achieving a draw can be essentially
groups, i. e. winning combinations very similar, although they belong
ending in mate and winning combi¬ to different groups.
nations in which at the end of a As far as the further breakdown of
combination one side has achieved combinations is concerned, I be¬
a material superiority that is suffi¬ lieve it would be expedient to conti¬
cient for a win. nue using the same approach. But I
According to their ending, drawing suggest the classification be based
combinations can readily be sub-di¬ on the objects of attack and the
vided into the following four sub¬ contacts that are co-ordinated
groups: combinations ending in against them in the final phases of
stalemate; positions characterized combinations. We already know
by endless chase or perpetual that co-ordinated connection of
check; positions in which the mate¬ contacts is the essence of combina¬
rial balancels such that the game is tions.

231
In terms of objects of attack, win¬ The third sub-group covers combi¬
ning combinations can be classified nations involving double attacks,
into three groups. The first contains one of whose objects is the king.
combinations aimed at the king, the Mating threats do not occur in this
second comprises those combina¬ sub-group, there are only attacks
tions whose purpose is to capture a dn, or threats to, the king. Why did
piece, whilst the third involves those we find it necessary to put combina¬
connected with queening. tions with double attacks, in which
In view of the special role of His one of the objects of attack is the
Royal Majesty in the chess game (if king, in a sub-group of their own?
the king is lost, all is lost) I believe it The decisive consideration was that
is appropriate to put all combina¬ the king is forced either to step
tions that are connected with an at¬ aside or to protect itself against the
tack on the king—and not only mat¬ attack as soon as it is attacked. By
ing combinations—in a separate contrast with an attack on any ocher
group. We shall call them combina¬ piece, an attack on the king may
tions aimed at the king. This group never be disregarded, because it
can be broken down into three sub¬ may not be left exposed to direct at¬
groups according to the connection tack.
of contacts occurring in the final Combinations whose purpose is to
stage. The first sub-group com¬ win pieces can be broken down into
prises combinations whose final two sub-groups according to the
stage features a mating connection kind of contact. The first consists of
of contacts. It consists not only of combinations which end in the im¬
all mating combinations which end mobilization and capture of the
in mate but also those in which mate piece against which a combined at¬
is prevented at the price of losses in tack is launched. The reader will re¬
material. The characteristic feature call that in such situations there is
of the final stages of such combina¬ an attacking contact and confining
tions is an active contact aimed at contacts. In other words only one
the king. active contact occurs.
The second sub-group comprises The second sub-group comprises
mating combinations consisting of a combinations involving the double
double attack and consequently of attack. They are characterized by
two active contacts. These combi¬ an attack on a piece coupled with a
nations are characterized by the strong threat or an attack on an¬
fact that they consist of a mating other chessman. To qualify for this
threat coupled with a strong threat sub-group a combination has to
or attack. This kind of combination have two active contacts in the final
does not necessarily lead up to a position.
mate ending, but in countering it Queening combinations can also be
the other side usually sustains losses broken down into two sub-groups
in material. according to the contacts that occur

232
 Iliiliijllllliii

in them. The first sub-group com¬ ing double attacks in whose final
prises combinations in which the phase the queening threat is cou¬
queening threat in the form of an pled with other strong threats or at¬
active contact between the pawn tacks on pieces. Two active contacts
and its queening square results are involved here again.
either in queening or in a decisive The following diagram shows all
gain in material. The other sub¬ the different kinds of combination
group covers combinations involv¬ considered by us.

Mating combinations
(one active contact aimed
at the king)

Double attack
Combinations
(two active contacts
against the king
including a mating threat)

Double attack
(two active contacts
including an attack
on the king
Winning
combinations Combined attack
Combinations (one active contact)
against pieces
and pawns Double attack
(two active contacts)

Simple queening
(one active contact)
Queening
combinations Double attack
(two active contacts
including a queening
threat)

It is expedient to classify drawing combinations involving an attack

combinations according to the same on the king towards the end of
prir nple on the basis of the objects which there are only confining con¬
of attack and of the contacts com¬ tacts and no active attacking con¬
ing into being towards the end of tacts. These are stalemate combina¬
the combination. tions. Their main feature is that al¬
The first group again comprises though the king is in a quandary, it

233
is able to save itself by a stalemate ber of pieces participating in the
combination. struggle, leads to a drawn game.
The second group is made up of In the second group, the player
combinations designed to achieve forced to go on the defensive suc¬
perpetual check, Such combinations ceeds in fortifying his position in
have an attacking contact, but the such a way that the opponent is un¬
confining contacts are not sufficient able to penetrate it. Or the attacker
for giving mate. At the same time finds himself unable to co-ordinate
the freedom of movement of the de¬ his forces against the objects of at¬
fender^ king has been curtailed to tack. It is also conceivable that for
such an extent that it cannot shake some reason the objects of attack
off its assailants no matter where it . are inaccessible to enemy attack.
turns. The last group comprises combina¬
Combinations of the third group do tions leading to a balance of forces
not differ basically from those of that ensures a draw. In such situa¬
the second group. We call them tions usually the player with weaker
combinations designed to achieve material resources restores material
perpetual chase. The only differ¬ equilibrium.
ence is that in the third group it is These combinations are not essen¬
not the king but the other pieces tially different from the winning
that are subjected to endless perse¬ combinations discussed earlier. Ma¬
cution. terial balance can be restored by an
Combinations involving blockades attack on the king, an attack on
and the building of fortifications pieces or pawns or by queening.
form two separate groups. In com¬ The reader will realize of course
binations with a blockade, one that each of the aforementioned
piece is usually caged in to prevent combination groups can be broken
it from taking part in the struggle, down into two sub-groups.
which, as a result of the small num¬

<— Stalemate combinations

— Perpetual check combinations

Drawing Perpetual pursuit combinations

combinations
Blockade combinations

~ Fortification combinations

__ Combinations aimed at restoring mate¬

rial equilibrium and ending in a draw

234
The first of these would comprise 1. Combinations
combinations in their purest form,
against the king
the second covers double attacks
coupled with some other manoeu¬
vre. We shall deal with this question Mating combinations account for
in greater detail when we examine the bulk of this group. Their main
some relevant examples. characteristic is the realization of a
All cases of drawing combinations mating combination.
are covered in the diagram shown Let us take a closer look at the two
above. kinds of such combinations. The
In actual practice we may some ac¬ first kind inevitably ends in mate.
ross some convoluted combinations
taking place in several phases and Radulov—Soderborg
overlapping each other. Such intri¬ Helsinki 1961
cate combinations are always classi¬
fied on the basis of the last, decisive
phase. For instance a combination
initiated with a view to win material
can transform into a queening com¬
bination.
The determining feature of such a
combination is the queening ma¬
noeuvre, the gaining of a piece
being the introduction.

White to play

Winning combinations
Four white pieces are ominously
poised to strike at the opponent’s
You will recall that winning combi¬
K-side. But how is he to get at the
nations can be classif ied into three
king, how does he eliminate the
groups based on the object of at¬
pawns protecting it? He does it by
tack. The first comprises combina¬
sacrificing the rook. This is not only
tions aimed at the king; the second
a self-destructive but also a diver-
those aimed at pieces and pawns
sive sacrifice.
and the third queening combina¬
tions. Let us now examine combina¬ 1 S xg7!(£>xg7 2 #g4+ dDh8 3
tions belonging to each of these sep¬ &h5
arate groups.
Note the important detail that
White was able to play the queen to
g4 and h5 only because Black’s king
had been drawn into the sphere of
influence of the bishop at e5. The

235
macing mechanism—by this we 3 ...hg+ 4&xg3 Sh3+!
mean the queen and the bishop sup¬
Here too the rook sacrifices itself
porting it in its attack on square
for a mating manoeuvre. This sacri¬
h7—has been set in motion. The
fice steers the king from the safety
bishop ate5 is also indirectly taking
of square f3 and to the death-bring¬
part by preventing the knight at f6
ing square h3. Black’s queen imme¬
from taking any counter-measures.
diately takes advantage of this.
Mate is inevitable, because 3 . ..
&g8 is followed by 4 & x f6 Se8 5 5&xh3&f3 + 6&h4 &e7 +
& x h7+ &f8 6 l£&h8 mate.
The mating combination betwen
In the next example there is also a the queen and the bishop is estab¬
mating combination of contacts, lished, the queen playing a passive
but what makes it different from the but very important role by creating
preceding position is that mate is a confining contact. The bishop is
thwarted at the cost of heavy losses given the honour of delivering the
in material. decisive blow. White has no choice
but to play 7 l^fg5. But after 7 ...
Kopayev—Averbakh & x f4+ 8 <£h3 & x g5 the game
Leningrad 1946 is over.

Mating combinations can also be

coupled with double attacks when
the mating threat is accompanied by
some other strong threat or attack.
Such a combination obviously does
not have to end in mate, but it can
win material.

Here is a typical example.

Parr— Wbeatcrojt
Black to play
London 1958

The king was forced to come out

from behind his pawn defences,
while its pieces are on the other side
of the board and give it no protec¬
tion. No wonder that the king im¬
mediately finds itself under heavy
fire.

1 . ..h4 2&c3 + &>d7 3&e5...

White’s queen double-times to her

lord’s rescue, but...

236
By 1 Sh5! White launches an effec¬ bringing his queen into play by 4
tive double attack. Black’s queen is K&e4, because after 4 .. . K& x e4 5
under fire, and 1 ... & x d7 is fol¬ de Black cannot play 5 .. . 0 x e4
lowed by mate in two: 2 ^ g5 + because of 6 2 d 8 mate. But Black
<£>h8 3 0 x h6 mate. has a more effective reply.
Such combinations accompanied by
3 . . . ibf7!
a double attack are not usually the
result of a consistent king’s attack, With this move he threatens first to
in most cases they occur unexpec¬ encage the queen by moving his
tedly. knight to g6 and then to capture it
The following position is quite by moving his rook to h8. To coun¬
characteristic. ter this threat White is forced to
take decisive steps.
Soloviev—Averbakh
4 Ocl £lg6 5 &g3 c6
Moscow 1945
To 5 .. . 2 h8 White would have
answered with 6 S x c7 + ^xc 7 7
&xg6.

6 2 c5 ...

The last attempt. If Black went

6 . . . Oh8, White’s reply would
have been 7 Of5. Instead, he
launches a double attack prepared
well in advance, which puts a quick
end to the struggle.

6 ... &c3!
The deployment of Black’s pieces is Attacking the queen and threaten¬
more active, but at first sight there ing mate at el. White resigned.
are no signs that a quick ending is in
Combinations with double attack,
sight. But the main weakness in
in which the king is one object of at¬
White’s battle order is the pasting
tack, without an actual mating
of his queen. The second player ex¬
threat are conceivable.
ploits this.

1 . .. £)e2 + 2 d?fl £)f4 3 &h 7...

White’s queen is trapped. It just

has a single square to move to.
Black can apparently triumph im¬
mediately by 3 .. . I^e6, mate in
three moves being threatened. But
White can refute this threat by

237
Bo tv i n n ik—Men cbik The second kind consists of combi¬
Hastings 1935 nations with double attacks in
which various pieces are subjected
to simultaneous attacks and threats,
i. e. they usually involve two active
contacts.The next diagram shows a
typical example of a combined at¬
tack.

Botvinnik—Stepanov
Leningrad 1934

Black to play

Black’s position is difficult. In an at¬

tempt to exchange her bishop
against White’s bishop, whose line
of fire covers the squares c6 and f7,
Black played 1 ... &d5. But then
came 2 fe A x b3 3 e7 4-! A brief
but extremely effective combina¬
tion ! The pawn sacrifice entangles White to play
Black’s king in a double attack. Af¬
ter 3 ... <2? x e7 4 c6 + White’s The black queen’s freedom of
material superiority is sufficient for movement is perceptibly curtailed,
a win. Black resigned. but for the time being it does not
seem to be in danger. White does
not bother to cover his pawn at d4
2. Combinations and goes 1 f5! If Black played 1 ...
against pieces and pawns S x d4> White would have
answered with a double attack 2 fe
We differentiate between two kinds fe x e6 3 & x e6 fe 4 g6 S e8 5
of combination in this category. e5 £)fd5 6 attacking the rook
The first comprises combinations in and threatening a breakthrough at
which a combined attack results in f7. That is why Black—apparently
the capture of a piece, i. e. the piece thinking that he could take the
is attacked and at the same time its pawn at leisure—plays 1 ... ef. But
mobility is restricted so that it can¬ this move is a mistake, for it allows
not evade the attack. In other words White to work up a combination
there is one active attacking con¬ against the precariously placed
tact, while the rest are confining queen: 2 fe X f7 4-! S x f7 3 £lc4,
contacts. and the queen is captured.

238
 imiiiiiiii!!

And here is an example of an origi¬ Black’s queen attacks the enemy

nal combination, which peaks in a queen and rook. Unable to take the
piece capture. queen or cover the rook, he resigns.

Novotelnov—Rowner
Moscow 1946 3. Queening combinations
Material advantage can usually be
obtained by advancing a pawn to
the queening rank. An elementary
combination illustrating this point is
the pawn breakthrough. Here is an
instructive example of such a com¬
bination that occurred in an end¬
game.

A ve rbakh—Bebtcbuk
Moscow 1964
Black to play

White has attacking chances,

threatening to take the pawn at b6
and to advance his pawn to f6. But it
is Black’s move and he detects a ma¬
jor weak spot in his opponent’s po¬
sition: the inadequately protected
second rank. He sacrifices a piece in
order to steer the rook to square f5.

I .. . & xf5!2 & xf5 £) xf5 3

S x f5 Sed8 White to play

The queen has to step aside to a Before White can advance one of
square from which it can watch the his pawns to the queening rank,
first rank. White has to clear the way. In the
4 ^c4 Sac8 5 l^e2 S x c2 position shown here this is done by
sacrificing three pawns.
This swap is just as effective as the
1 c5! fc 2 g5 hg
sacrifice made earlier, for the queen
is lured to the square c2. Black does not fare better by 2 ...
<2?d7 either. The king stops the
6&xc2 &c8!
white pawn’s advance after 3 f6
The ensuing position is quite un¬ <2>e6 4 fg <2>f7 5 gh b5, but White
ique. White is powerless against this manages to captu re his opponent’s
double attack finale in which pawns by 6 ($>e4 b4 7 *^d3!

239
After 3 f6 gf 4 h5 the sole White sur¬ double attack consisting of a two¬
vivor’s advance cannot be stopped. fold attack (on the rook and the
king) and a concealed queening
There are of course also queening
threat.
combinations involving double at¬
tacks. In the next position White decides
the game in his favour in no time by
Weltmander—Polugayevsky unleashing a double attack.
Socbi 1958

Black to play White to play

The first impression is that White He played 1 <&e8! If 1 .. . S x e8,

has the better of the game, since then 2 f7 + with a double attack
Black’s knight e2 is lost. But the consisting of an attack on the king
outwardly harmless, but actually and at the same time an attack on
strong passed pawn at c3 enables the rook coupled with queening.
Black to realize a winning combina¬ Black preferred to play 1 ... (Dh7,
tion in which the knight is sacri¬ but after 2 f7 he resigned.
ficed.

1 ...£jg3+!

Thanks to this sacrifice the f-file is

Drawing combinations
opened for a decisive double attack.
It is advisable to take a closer look
2 fg &f6+ 3&f2. . . particularly at those drawing com¬
The only defence, otherwise White binations in which the king is the
loses the rook. object of attack. Perpetual check
positions are typical examples of
3 .. . S xel + !4®xel &xf2 + this kind of combination. Stalemate
5 d? X f2 c2, and the pawn queens. also belongs in this category, al¬
It is worth taking another look at though as a rule we stalemate our
this operation. 2 ... ^f6 + is a own king and not the opponent’s.

240
1. Perpetual check 13 &xh6!gh 14 S xc6!fe 15
&g3 4- &h8 16&g6,,,
Perpetual check occurs most fre¬
White’s queen supported by the
quently when the offensive forces
bishop is hovering ominously close
are not sufficient for a winning at¬
to the hostile king, but Black’s
tack and when they are unable to
knight reliably defends the square
disorganize the position around the
h7. White does not have sufficient
enemy king and pursue it. In such
reserves to make mating threats. Af¬
situations it is usually the queen that
ter 16 .. . \&e8 he can do no more
is used to give perpetual check.
than give perpetual check:
This is illustrated by an old exam¬ 17 ^Xh6 4- <&g8 18 1^fg5 4- <&h8
ple, which has become classic. (by no means 18 ... on ac¬
count of 19 ^g6 mate) 19 l&h6 4-,
A lekhine—Lasker and the game could be agreed
Moscow 1914 drawn.

Sometimes perpetual check is the

last resort; it happens when the at¬
tacking player’s resources are ex¬
hausted before a breakthrough can
be made.

Smyslov— Vasyukov
Moscow 1961

Black to play

The position shown in the diagram

occurred after the following open¬
ing moves:

I e4 e5 2 £)f3 £)c6 3 d4 ed 4
£) x d4 £)f6 5 £)c3 &b4 6 £) x c6
be 7 &d3 d5 8 ed cd 9 0-0 0-0 10
Ag5&e6 11&f3&e7l2 Sfel...
White to play
In an attempt to resolve the problem
created by the posting of his oppo¬ The first impression suggests that
nent’s black-square bishop, Lasker White’s attack has broken down
played 12 .. . h6. Alekhine took ad¬ and material losses are unavoidable.
vantage of this in order to develop a But White played 1 Sh5-|-!This
drawing combination by making destructive sacrifice lays bare the
two destructive sacrifices. king and enables White to give per-

241
petual check by 1 ...gh2i^fd6 + 2. The stalemate
&g 6 3&f8 + .
Stalemating combinations occur
Perpetual check threats involving
rarely in actual games, especially in
double attacks can also be coupled
the middle game. They occur most
with other strong threats.
frequently when the player out to
win the game underestimates his
W. von Holzhausen, 1899
opponent’s defence resources or
fails to make a realistic assessment.
Here is one of the best-known ex¬
amples of this kind.

Evans—R eshevsky
New York 1963

White to play

White’s position looks hopeless.

How can he stop the terrible enemy
pawns? And yet there is a way: 1
£l b8! This is a double attack, be¬
cause it contains two concealed
threats. The first is 2 £lc6 with a
mating threat on b8. That is why It is easy to tell that While’s posi¬
1 ... al(l^f) is worthless, because tion is miserable. He is one piece
this would even give White a win by down and his king is in mortal
2£lc6l&a7+ 3 £) x a7 (i? x a7 4 danger. Apparently it is high time to
S g6. Consequently the king has to acknowledge defeat. But Evans did
move, but after 1 ... (I?a7 2 0 b4! not think of quitting. Instead he
the second concealed threat comes made a move which Black must
into play: White has set up the me¬ have interpreted as a move of des¬
chanism of perpetual check. After peration.
2 .. .al(&)3 £c6+ <&a6 4
£l b8 + d?a5 5 c6 + the game 1 h4! Se2+ 2<£>hl &xg3??
ends in a draw. Expecting capitulation any minute,
Reshevsky did not take the trouble
to see what his partner was up to
and took the pawn. But this left
White’s king without a move, so

242
that all he has to do is free himself no means the last straw that the
of his superfluous pieces, which he drowning man clings to. The stale¬
does by making two self-destructive mating threat is a perfectly legiti¬
sacrifices. mate means of defence which
should never be discounted.
3 ^fg8 + !<2?xg8 42xg7 + , and
regardless of who takes on g7»
Taimanov— Getter
White is stalemated.
Moscow 1951
Beware of stalemate threats in end¬
games, especially when there are
only a few pieces left and the oppo¬
nent’s king is perceptibly hemmed
in.

Zagoryamky— Tolush
Moscow 1945

White’s position is hopeless, for

there is no defence against the nu¬
merous threats. And the game lasts
only another three moves: 1 ...
2 Xh2 2&e3 2 a8 3 Sg7+ (a
desperate sacrifice, which Black
simply disregards) 3 . . . <^Jh6, and
White resigned. It was discovered
White’s prospects are bleak, but later that this was what might be
Black still has to overcome the last called a “comedy of errors”. The
few obstacles. Instead of fortifying very first move could have given
his position systematically,’Tolush Black a win. He should have played
engineered a trap based on the 1 ... 2g4l, e. g. 2 2h3 2d + 3
double attack. He played 1 ... <&e2 2g2 + .
&h3? His opponent seemingly But the move made by Black in the
obliged him by 2 x f4! g2 + 3 actual game gave White a chance to
&f2 2 f6. Black’s idea was to coun¬ realize an elegant stalemate combi¬
ter 4 & :f6 by the decisive 4 ... nation. It begins with an exchange:
£lc4 +. But the game was drawn af¬ 2 2 xg8!&xg83 2g3+!!This
ter the unexpected 4 <£>gl!! decoy sacrifice deprives the White
As you see, stalemate is indeed king of all moves. After 3 .. .
sometimes the last resort. But it is by & x g3 the king is in a stalemated

243
position* which means that all 5 &b2!!...
White has to do now is get rid of his
This move is also a double attack.
queen by 4 &b% + C£?g7 5 I^fg8 + !
White threatens to stop the pawn
to get a draw.
by 6 S cl and forces Black to
Stalemate has always fascinated queen.
problem composers. They have
5 ...hi(6)
created numerous outstanding
works illustrating how stalemating But now White’s king, which has
connections come into being in the locked up its bishop, has no move
course of a contest. left itself. In consequence the self¬
destructive sacrifice 6 S h6 + ! re¬
V and M. Platov, 1907 sults in stalemate.
The threat of stalemate can also be
coupled with a variety of other
threats in a double attack.

A. Motor, 1972

Draw

It is impossible to intercept Black’s

pawn, which makes White’s checks
looks like gestures of resignation. Draw

1 h7+ &h8 2&g7 + &xh73

White’s position is critical. The
Aal + !...
pawn e2 can be stopped only by 1
What is the point of this? The pur¬ Sgl, but this is followed by 1 ...
pose of this move is unclear at first. f4, and the attempt to create mating
threats is easily refuted, e. g. 2 (i?f7
3 . . . &g6 4 S xc6+ &h5
h6 3 2 b 1 ti?h7 and then 4 ., . f3.
There are no more checks in sight No better is 3 tt?g6 c4 4 S b 1 c3.
and White’s position suggests that What can one do?
he is on the verge of resigning. But
1 Sg2!!
his defence resources are far from
depleted. By posting his bishop on An amazing move! White literally
al, White has prepared a stalemate forces his opponent to pull out his
nook for his king well in advance. pawn and to give check to boot!

244
1 ...el(&) + 2&f7. .. be co-ordinated. This makes it pos¬
sible for the defending player, when
The situation has been resolved
there is not much material left on
now. White threatens to give mate
the board, to use the blockade as a
and perpetual check simultane¬
means of neutralizing an oppo¬
ously, i. e. again a double attack.
nent’s piece, for instance the king.
The perpetual check is based on
stalemate. Thus, after 2 ... h5 it is Here is a very characteristic exam¬
possible to continue by 3 Sg8 + ple.
<£>h7 4 Bg7+! (£?h6 (after 4 ...
A x g7 White is stalemated) 5 P. Ilyin, 1947
Og6 + . Having forced Black to
queen, White gets a chance to
threaten stalemate. But the struggle
is not over yet. Black can protect his
position with the bishop and shield
the rook.

2 ... Ag7

White finds himself in a delicate si¬

tuation again. But he has a fitting
reply.

3 Se2!!...

Black is again confronted with ex¬

White is faced with the daunting
tremely bothersome problems. If he
problem of stopping the black
takes the rook, White is stalemated
pawn. Apparently in despair, he
again. Moreover, the text move is a
gives check with the knight.
double attack aimed at the queen,
and if it moves aside then the king is 1 £le7 + ...
checkmated on e8. Strange as it
The king has to dodge in such a
seems, Black’s only defence is 3 ...
way that the knight cannot capture
Ac3, but after that the rook returns the pawn by means of a double at¬
with a mating threat: 4 B g2.In this
tack. If for instance 1 ... <&f8 or
manner White manages to achieve a
1 ... (£?h8, then 2 £)g6 + and 3
draw in the end-game by alternately
£l f4. But if 1 ...&f7,then2£)c6
threatening mate and stalemate.
e2 3 £l e5 +, and the pawn is
stopped after 4 £lf3. This means
that the king has only one square it
3. The blockade
can move to with impunity.
In an attack it is very important that
1 .. .<£>h7 2g6+ <£>h8
the attacking pieces should support
each other and that their operations The king cannot evade to h6 be-

245
cause of 3 £)f5 + and 4 £) x e3. But White has a dangerously weak
White has run out of checks and the pawn b2.1 x c4 would therefore
pawn is still beyond his reach. be worthless on account of 1 ...
Suddenly the idea occurs to him Obi, in which case Black captures
that it might be possible to exploit the object of contention on b2 and
the fact that the king is confined to achieves victory. But White finds a
the corner. Besides, a lone queen surprising line that gets him out of
cannot do anything against a king trouble.
and knight. Pursuing this line White
1 &g4+ <Sd6 2&f5!...
sends his king on a support mission
to the knight. Preventing the rook from going to
b 1. But Black too comes up with a
3 &b4! e2 4 &c5 el(tSJr) 5 &d6 ...
no less threatening move, which ha¬
Here you can see for yourself that rasses the pawn.
the “all-powerful” queen is unable
2 ... 0a2!
to lift the blockade, e. g. 5 ... &e4
6&d7 &e5 7 <£>d8 &e68 <£>e8 The tide of battle seems to have
&d6 9 &f7 &d7 10 &f8 &d8 + turned in Black’s favour, but...
11 &f7, etc.
3 51 xa2!ba4&cl al(<&)+ 5
There is one point that deserves spe¬
&b 1, and both sides are marking
cial emphasis. If after 5 ^>d6
time. Black’s queen has been com¬
Black’s queen had been posted on
pletely neutralized. Therefore a
e2 instead of el, Black could have
draw!
broken the blockade by 5 ... & g4!
6&c7^d4! And here is an example showing the
blockade of a rook.
Not only the king, but any piece,
the queen included, can be blocked.
A. Troitzky, 1930

F. Zimkhovitch, 1927

Black seems to be well on his way to

victory. He is a rook up and White’s

246
 pawns can be stopped easily, e. g. by In a double attack, a blocking
1 <£>h5 0 X e7 2 <£>h6 &e5 3 Ad5 threat can also be coupled with
<&e8 4 &f7 + <&f8, and White can other threats.
give up, or 1 Ad5 S x e7 2 Af7
Ae5 3 Ct?h5 A g7 with the same re¬ G. Zakbodyakin, 1949
sult. In the second line, 1 ...
S x g6 would have been a mistake
because of 2 Af7.
White can save himself only if he
succeeds in surrounding the rook.
Let us see how this can be done. It is
very important not to let Black go
1 ... Sx e7, for this would enable
him to launch co-ordinated opera¬
tions with the rook and bishop
against the g-pawn.
This is done by 1 Ac6 +! C?? x e7, Draw
because 1 ... C?? x c6 loses to 2 g7.
Now White initiates a double attack White’s position looks hopeless.
by 2 A d5! which contains two There is no way to stop the Black
threats. If the rook evades the blow pawn.
on the e-file, then White goes 3 g7
1 £a6e2 2 £c7+ <£>f8 3 £)e6 +
and wins. That is why Black is
<t>g8
forced to play 2 .. . S X g6, which
enables us to carry out our plan: 3 White has run out of checks and the
<£>h5 S g7 4 g6 <£>f6 5 Af7, and the only way he can save himself is by
rook is imprisoned. blocking the king. But how?
But this is not the end of the battle.
4 f 7!...
Black can try to force the opponent
to loosen his grip on the rook. But A simple solution. Again we see a
after 5 . .. <£>f5 6 <£>h4! <£>f4 7 double attack here. If the king takes
<£>h3! Ae7 8<£>g2 Ah4 9<£>gl a the knight then White retaliates
draw is certain. with the concealed threat of stop¬
On the other hand, attempts to ping the pawn by 5 £)g5 + and 6
keep the king in the vicinity of the f3. But if the pawn queens then
black rook end in a disaster. For in¬ White locks up his adversary’s by 5
stance, if 6 CE?h6? Ae5 7 <£>h5 Af6! £) fg5 land throws away the key.
8<£>h6<£>g4 9Ae6 + <&h4 10 Af7
Ad4, then White is forced to re¬
lease the rook from prison and 4. Perpetual pursuit
Black wins after 11 Ae6 0e7 12
Af7 Ae3 + 13 <£>g7 <£>g5 14 <&f8 Not only the king but any other
<£>f6. piece on the board can be exposed

247
to unceasing attacks or perpetual G. Nadareisbvili, 1970
pursuit. This aspect of the game has
been exhaustively dealt with by
composers of studies.

S. Bimov, 1928

Draw

A sharp position in which White’s

pawns are an important strength
factor. But after 1 g7 + <3?f7 2
Draw A e8 +! <l?g8 White’s onslaught
seems to have been repelled. At this
White's position could hardly be point White played 3 A c£>! threat¬
worse. The passed pawn a5 is easily ening mate with his bishop at d5.
controlled by the bishop, and Blacks’s reply 3 .,. ^ x d4 does
Black’s h-pawn cannot be stopped. not provide real protection in view
Although at first sight the position of 4 & d5 + ! x d5 stalemate.
is hopeless, White can still defend This means that the bishop's move
himself. It is only a question of find¬ to c6 contains two threats: a mating
ing the right solution. threat and a concealed stalemating
threat. Black can protect himself
1 a6 & x c4 2 e4 + !...
against the mate by 3 .. . l^a5.
This thrust catches Black off guard This is followed by 4 Ac5! £&d8 5
and confuses his defence. Later on £db! ^rg56 Ae5! &d27 Ad4l
the king obstructs its bishop’s free¬ These repeated self-destructive sac¬
dom of movement. rifices are made in order to keep up
a perpetual pursuit of a piece.
2 . . . & x e4 3 a7 &d5 4 c4! &a8 5
I should like to point out that the
Cfrb8 &c6 6 &c7 &a8 7 &b8 etc.
term “perpetual pursuit” is more
The steering of the black king into comprehensive than the term “per¬
an unfavourable position played an petual attack”. In the first example
important role. discussed there is no attack at all,
but only the threat of stalemate,
which forces the black Queen to
dance a strange waltz with the
White bishop.

248
 .. I i i ItlHI 11 Htt

Occasionally we also encounter 3 ... £)h2! 4 ^f2 £)g4 5 ^f3

perpetual pursuit in practical chess, (mate is also possible: 5 ^fl ? #h2
Here is just one example. mate) 5 ... Qh2 with a draw.

Surachov—Buchmann
Kiev 1967 y Building fortifications

Building an impregnable fortress is

an effective means used in practical
chess. The building of fortifications
occurs most frequently in the end¬
game.

Ilivitsky—Averbakh
Moscow 19 SO

Black's pieces are not exactly what

one might call well placed; their
main weakness is that they have lost
their coherence. Although the
queen is not being attacked, it is out
of the game, and e4—e5 is threat¬
ened. But the cramped position of
the white pieces on the K~side en¬
ables Black to carry out a perpetual
attack combination.
Black seems to have walked into a
1 . . . S,g4! 2 hg (after 2 !&f2 trap:
A x e2 3 £) X e2 x f2 4- Black
1 ...£lxg4 4-2Bxg4Bxg4 3
has nothing to fear) 2 ... x g4 3
&c8 + &d6 4 A x g4 &c6.
Bfel...
White has won a piece, but Black
The link between the black queen
has captured his adversary's passed
and its bishop in itself does not en¬
pawn and built an impregnable for¬
danger White’s king in view of the
tress. Black's king retreats to b8, af¬
cover given by the knight g3 to
ter which White is unable to get at
square h 1. But attention is focussed
the pawn a7. After a few more
not so much on attacking the white
moves the contenders agreed to call
king as on curtailing the queen's
it a draw.
freedom of movement to make it
possible to pursue it constantly.

249
Flo hr—L Hie nthal And again we have to ask study
composers for help, for they have
done a very thorough job of ex¬
amining the building of fortifica¬
tions.

Black to play

White has a queen against Black’s

rook and is one pawn down, but the
struggle takes place exclusively on
one side. Its result depends on
whether or not White can take the Draw
fortress by storm. What followed
was: White is unable to stop the pawn.
The next best thing seems to try
1 ...£)f5!2&xf5...
building a fortress for his king to
The more persistent line was of hide in by 1 f6. Now let us see if
course to play 2 ^f4 and then to try Black succeeds in destroying it.
breaching Black’s fortress by advan¬
1 f6 h2 2 &f8 hl(t&l) 3 &g8 &d7
cing the h-pawn. But White thought
he could win easily after the ex¬ Black’s only chance is to advance
change thanks to his passed pawn. his king to f5 and then—by offering
up his queen against the knight—to
2 .. .gf3&g2f4 4h4&h7 5&f3
capture the pawn at g5. If he suc¬
Se3+ 6&xf4 Se6 7&f5 0g6 8
ceeds in carrying out this plan he
h5 0h6 9&g5...
wins.
White has pulled up his forces close To frustrate this undertaking once
to the enemy’s defensive wall, but and for all, White simply has to
he was unable to overcome it. The cover the pawn at g5 with his
contest then took the following bishop. To do this he has to trans¬
course: pose the bishop to square h6 or to
the diagonal c 1 —f4.
9 .. . 0e6 10 l^fdS t£?g7 (the queen
First, let us try transferring the
must not be allowed to move to f8)
bishop to h6.
11 ^d4+ &h7 12l&h4 Oh6 13
^b4 dbg7 14 t&rb8 0 e6 draw. 4 &f8 t*5fa8!

250
The bishop must not be allowed to moving to the saving square h6. Let
get to h6. us try building our fortress again.

5 <£>g7 <£>e6 6 <£>g8 <£>f5 7 <£>g7 ... 5 f6 h2 6 Af8! hl(&) 7 &h6, and
Black can do nothing to keep the
Again the bishop is prevented from
king from moving to the safe re¬
going to h6. Black now has the upper
fuge.
hand, which he can retain easily.
White had to work with surgical
7 .. .tSarhl 8<£>g8 &xh7 + 9
precision up to the very end. If he
<£> x h7 <£> x g5 etc.
had played his king behind the pro¬
But what would have happened if tective wall straight away and con¬
instead of 7 (t?g7 White had simply tinued with 6 <t?f8 hl(&) 7 (t?g8,
played 7 <£?h8? Black would have then Black would have had a strong
won by 7 .. . fir x f8 + ! 8 £ x f8 reply at his disposal: 7 ...&h2!,
<£> x g5 9 <£>g7 <£>f5. which would have tipped the scale
Perhaps the bishop should be in his advantage. 8 £if8 would then
placed on the diagonal cl—f4? Let have been followed by 8 ... &b8!
us see what happens. 9 <£>g7 <£>d7 10 <£>g8 <£>e6 11 <£>g7
<£>f5 12<£>g8 &a8! 13 t$?g7 l&hl
4 &b4 <£>e6 5 &d2 <£>f5 6 &e3 ...
and 14 .. . & x h7 4-.
Black succeeds in driving the bishop The building of a fortress is not al¬
off the vital diagonal. ways the obvious thing to do; in fact
sometimes it is anything but obvi¬
6 . . . &f3 7 &d2 &e2 8 &cl &el!
ous.
9 £ia3 i&hl and then 10 . ..
&xh7+ and 11 .. .<& Xg5.
V. Cbekbover, 1947
We can conclude from this that 1 f6
is not enough for a draw. Perhaps
we were a bit too hasty in deciding
to build a fortress? Let’s take an¬
other look at the original position.
The black king’s posting prompts us
to stop the pawn with the bishop.
Let us try it:

1 £if6<£>d6 2 &e7+ <£>e5 3 fiid8!

(£>d6 4 &e7+ C£>c6

By threatening the king in this fash¬

ion we have forced it to step on the
diagonal hi—a8. Now the newly White’s three extra pawns seem to
created queen cannot move to a8. outweigh the disadvantage of hav¬
This means that Black is no longer ing only a bishop against Black’s
able to prevent the bishop from rook. But such superficial assess-

251
ments are often incorrect. Black can ,
J. Hasek 1937
threaten to penetrate with his rook
and capture the pawns on f- and g-
files, after which victory would only
be a matter of time.
Two variants to exemplify this: 1
&c2 Sh2 2 Afl g xf2 3 &d3
Sg2or 1 &f3 gf8 2&dl g x f2 3
g4 gg2 4 <&c2 Sg3, and Black tri¬
umphs by transposing his king to
e4. We can conclude from this that
the loss of a single pawn on the K-
side can lead to defeat.
Draw
So is there anything White can do
to prevent the loss of a pawn? There
White’s position looks hopeless in
is, although the line is very uncon¬ view of the incurably weak pawns
ventional and involves the offering
g2 and c2. For this reason conven¬
up of the bishop. This idea seems
tional lines such as 1 Se6 &g7 2
absurd at first. It is indeed paradoxi¬ g xe5 Sh8 3 Sf5 Sh24 Sxf4
cal that White, through an appar¬
g Xg2 5 g g4 + <&f6 6 <^b 1
ently senseless sacrifice of a bishop,
ggl + 7&a2 Scl 8 g x g3
manages to drive the rook out of his
g X c2 + cannot help improve
own camp and to build an impreg¬
White’s position because Black re¬
nable fortress.
tains the upper hand by capturing
There is only one way of carrying one of the pawns b3 or d3. There is
out this plan: 1 &dl! 0h2 2 <&el only one line that leads to a draw:
(or &e2) 0 x g2 3 &f 1 0 h2 4
1 &bl!&g7 2 gh6!!...
&gl 0h6 5 f3! Oe6 6&fl &f7 7
&f2 In this highly unusual manner
White wins decisive tempo enabling
A unique position! Black is a rook
him to move his king to the vital
up but he is unable to tip the scale in
square e2 in time.
his favour. White has built a bastion
from his pawns whose entrances 2 .. . &xh6 3&cl &g54&dl
and exits are reliably watched by gh8 5<&e2 gh2 6&fl ghl + 7
the king. <&e2 gel or 7 ... ggl stalemate!
Sometimes the building of a fortress
The alternative line after White’s
is motivated by plans to achieve
6th move 6 ... g x g2 7 & x g2
stalemate, etc. Here are two exam¬
&h4 8 &gl &h3 9 QQhl g2 + 10
ples of this.
&gl with a draw is not any better.

The next study is even more remar¬

kable.

252
/. Hasek, 1932 he is unable to achieve overwhel¬
ming material superiority.

6. Balance
of forces leading
to a draw

When a player on the defensive

who is weaker in terms of material
manages to restore material equilib¬
rium through a combination, then
Draw
this combination does not differ ba¬
sically from the winning combina¬
Black is a rook up and the inconve¬
tions designed to win material,
niences caused by the cramped plac¬
which we have already dealt with.
ing of his pieces are apparently only
What we are interested in here are
of a transitory nature. It is not easy
combinations which do not restore
for White to find a solution. Even
equilibrium but which bring about a
an experienced grandmaster will be
balance of forces that theoretically
astonished at the solution.
ensures a draw.
1 7+!. .. Let us start out with a very old posi¬
tion.
White has little enough material as
it is and now he gives away his last
piece. But in this position each ,
G. Greco 1623
tempo is valuable. To win time
White does not hesitate to sacrifice
his bishop.

1 . . . 0 xa7(l .. .&xa72b6 +
(J)b8 etc. changes nothing) 2 b6
Oa8 3&c3&xg4

Black’s plan is clear: he wants to

penetrate into the enemy camp with
his rook along the only open file.

4 &d2 {®?c8 5 dbel &d7 6 &fl

Og87&gl! &h5+ 8 (£>hl! Black to play, draw

White’s king has at last reached the

secluded spot. In view of the threat¬ The solution is elementary:
ened stalemate Black’s rook cannot
1 ... Oal+ 2 Ofl 0 xfl+ 3
penetrate atg2, which means that
&xfl &h3!

253
Black’s position will theoretically Consequently he cannot take the
lead to a draw by his exchanging knight with impunity. Let us try
the bishop for the pawn g2. finding a continuation which will
enable White to exchange his three
The next example is much more
pawns against his adversary’s two.
complex.
Let us see what happens for in¬
stance if we go 2 d5 +.
If Black answers with 2 ... (t?d6
then the pawn exchange plan is fea¬
sible: 3 ef gf 4 g4! fg 5 (£>d4! £}c2 +
6 (£>e4, and the pawn at g4 is lost.
But now let us assume that Black
decides to play 2 .. . (£>e5. In that
case the d-pawn lends a helping
hand algain: 3 d6! (£>xd6 4 ef gf 5
g4! fg 6 (£>d4! and again a draw.
Everything seems to be clear. But
Black springs a surprise. 2 d5 4- is
followed by 2 ... (t?f6!, a magnifi¬
Draw cent move which brings White’s
plan to naught, because after 3 ef
Black is a knight up against White’s &xf5 4&b2 &e5 5<£>xal
extra pawn. But the knight is badly & x d5 6 &b2 &d4 7 &c2 &>e3
placed. What line should White Black is in control.
take to ensure a draw? Theoreti¬ We have made a few mistakes, but
cally he has two options: the first is now we know where the right solu¬
to capture the knight in exchange tion lies. The thrust with the d-
for a pawn, the second is to ex¬ pawn has to be made when square
change his three pawns for his op¬ f6 is still occupied by the pawn.
ponent’s two. Thus:
It is not difficult to capture the
1 d5+ ! &e5 2 &c3 f5 3 d6! &:d6 4
knight. After 1 (i?c3 it is trapped.
ef gf 5 g4! etc.
What worries him Is the counter
1 . . . f5! that Black has at his dispo¬ If Black goes 1 ... (£>d6 this time
sal. He cannot meet it by 2 e5 be¬ then 2 (£>c3 (£>e5 3 g4! with a clear
cause of 2 ... f4 3 (i?b2 g5 4 draw.
(£> x al g4 5 (t?b2 f3, and a pawn is A balance of forces that ensures a
on its way to the queening square. 2 draw can naturally also be achieved
ef + would not do either, because with the aid of a double attack.
of 2 . .. <&> x f5 3 &b2 &e4 4
& x al x d4 5 &b2 g5 6 &c2
&e3 7 {£>d 1 &f2 8 g4 ©f3, and
Black wins.

254
M. Perelman, 1955 rook nor leaves his bishop un¬
covered: 4 . . . 0e5. But after 5
£lf4+ <£>g4 6 £ld3 White captures
the bishop and in view of the bal¬
ance of forces a draw is ensured.

The attack
on the king
How do contacts come about in the
Draw course of a game? How are they co¬
ordinated, or more precisely, what
White is a whole rook down here. are the contributory factors that
To achieve a draw he has to solve help bring about combinations? We
the daunting task of saving the propose to make a more detailed
knight and capturing the oppo¬ study of these questions on the basis
nent’s bishop. He has no choice but of the attack on the king. Normally
to try a pawn move. an attack on the king is the upshot
1 e7 Se4 + of a strategic plan whose objective
is to move pieces (and sometimes
Where should he move his king? also pawns) up to the enemy king so
Since he has to keep an eye on the that they can attack or at least
bishop, he has only two moves to threaten to attack the king from
choose from: 2 (2?dl and 2 ($?fl. their positions.
If White opts for 2 <dbd 1, he finds We will deal here only with those
that after 2 ... S x e5 3 £)d6 cases in which the forces have al¬
S x e7 4 f5 S e5 he has gained ready been moved up to the king.
nothing. But to 3 £lc7 S x e7 4 The attacker’s pieces are ominously
d5 Black has the reply 4 ... S d7 hovering over the opponent’s king
at his disposal. and waiting for a tactically oppor¬
In view of the fact that the knight tune moment. Combinations sig¬
got in the king’s way perhaps it was nalling the final act of the attack de¬
wrong to move it to d 1. In that case velop.
let us try 2 d?fl S x e5 3 £)c7
S xe74£ld5!...

The white knight wants to “fork"

Black’s pieces, i. e. a double attack
is in the offing. Black has only one
reply which neither costs him the
Hewitt—Steinitz Black may not have sufficient mate¬
London 1866 rial to do him any harm.

4<£>h4£)g2+ 5<£>h5...

Shaking a little and surprised at his

own a'udacity, the lone king plunges
into battle against overwhelming
odds. Having dispatched the
mighty queen and the rook, he tries
to prove his prowess in hand-to-
hand combat. But despite the fact
that Black has much less material
left on the board than White, his
strength on the King’s side is still
entirely sufficient to seal the fate of
We have in front of us a typical at¬ the enemy king. The hour of reck¬
tacking position. Black pieces have oning has come.
taken up positions directly in front
5 .. . 0f5+ 6<&g4h5+ 7<&h3
of the king’s fortress, the rook has
Bf2 mate.
already penetrated the defences.
The question now is how to attack Please note the mating mechanism,
the king, how to stage a combined which is actually in the form of a
attack on the king and how to double attack. Whilst protecting the
checkmate it. knight, the rook paves the way for
Steinitz solved the problem in an in¬ the bishop to deliver the decisive
structive fashion. blow. At an early stage Black had
realized that White’s bishop and
1 .. . 0 Xg2+!
pawn would play an important part
This sacrifice is the mine that in hemming in the king.
sweeps away the last bastions. The There was another line Black could
white sovereign is left virtually have taken to win the game, but it
without pawn protection. would have meant making an extra
move: 6 . . . 0 f4 + 7 <£>h5 &e8 +
2&xg2 &h3+!!3<£>xh3
8 d?g5 h6 mate. What with the king
£)e3 +
contending unaided and exposed
Black forces the king to come out against three pieces and two pawns,
into the open. If White had refused the outcome is not surprising.
to accept the sacrifice and retreated This very impressive combination
with his king to gl instead, there of Steinitz consists of three phases:
would have been no defence against 1. Destruction of the king’s fortress
mate after 3 .. . Bf2. But now the and cork-screwing the king. 2. Pur¬
king is forced to face his destiny, suit of the king. 3. Setting up of the
harbouring the secret hope that mating mechanism.

256
As a rule mating combinations are 2<£>xf2£g4 + 3<&f3.. .
made up of three phases. In the first
The king has to cpme forward, for
phase the king being attacked
if it retreats it is checkmated by the
usually loses its pawn defence
bishop on e3. This is the start of a
through a sacrifice and comes un¬
chase whose purpose is to involve
der enemy fire from hostile pieces.
an additional piece in the attack and
In the second phase the king is
with its aid to force the king back
driven to the spot where the last act
into the mating net.
takes place, i. e. the combined at¬
tack and the mating thrust. 3 .. .e4 4-!4<£>xe4. , ,

Here is another example of such a If the pawn takes, then mate with
three-phase mating combination. knight d7 ate5 follows immedi¬
ately.
O ’Kelly—Defosse
4 . . . £)df6 4-
Belgium 1936
Check can also be given with the
other knight; the outcome is the
same.

5 <£>f3 £e5 + 6 <£>f2 S)fg4 + 7

<2?gl ^e3 mate.

Black’s pieces have collaborated

magnificently, while White’s vast
army stood around and watched.
The rook e 1, the bishop h 1 and the
pawns h2, g3 and e2 even played a
negative part by hemming in their
king. Not every mating combina¬
tion is necessarily made up of three
White has just played the knight to
distinct phases, of course. For in¬
d4 hoping to wrest the initiative
stance, if the king’s position has
from his adversary. If Black takes
been destroyed in the course of the
the knight, White recaptures with
game then it is no longer necessary
his queen and his plan is vindicated.
to smash the king’s fortress.
But events take an entirely different
course.

1 ...«SSfxf2 + !!

With this magnificent sacrifice

Black breaks open the king’s for¬
tress. White’s king immediately
finds itself in a cross-fire from the
enemy pieces.

257
Mackenzie—Mason carried out in a number of different
Paris 1878 ways and assume different forms.

Here is a simple but characteristic

case of an attack with two rooks.

Polugayevsk i—Sz ilagyi

Moscow 1960

Black hopes to get his king safely to

the Q-side, e. g. if 1 £) hf5 + then
1 . . .<&f8 2&h6 + &e8.Butthe
weakened position of Black’s king
White to play
enables White to launch a decisive
mating combination without delay.
Black’s king is in danger. It has been
1 &h6+ !!... cut off from the g-file, and there is
no escape for it if White manages to
Dragging Black’s king out into the
transpose his other rook to the h-
open.
file. This is very easily done: I
I .. .&xh62 £hf5+ & xf5 3 £if8 + ! S x f8. The sacrifice di¬
£) x f5 + . . . verts Black’s rook from its task of
keeping watch on its White oppo¬
Starting a hunt that does not last
site number. The White bishop has
very long.
to be taken, for if the king retreats it
3 . .. t£*h5 4 g4+ x g4 5 Sg3 + is immediately checkmated. But
t£?h5 6 £tle2 mate. after 2 Sd3 Black is left without
defences.
Since the king had to contend with
superior White forces unassisted,
there was another, even easier line
White could have taken to win the
game: 4 Sh3 + d&g4 5 £)h6 mate.
As soon as the king is deprived of its
defensive pawns it can be threat¬
ened by different pieces, which is
why the combined attack can be

258
Miszto—Kloza Now let us examine a mating attack
Poland 1955 with a rook and a knight.

Rossolimo—Reissman
San Juan 1967

The first impression is that Black is

better off, White’s bishop at d4 be¬
As soon as White has eliminated the
ing uncomfortably pinned. But first
knight d 5 through exchange, he
impressions are misleading. The
launches an attack on the king dis¬
bishop can support the two rooks
regarding its seemingly reliable
despite the pin and two rooks are a
pawn defences.
force to be reckoned with. But how
can they be mobilized for an attack? 1 & x d5 cd 2 £f6+ <&h8 3 i&g6!!
By sacrificing the queen.

I &h7+!!... Moves such as this are a source of

In this manner the black king willy- delight. Although exposed to attack
from two pawns, the queen cannot
nilly finds itself drawn into the con¬
flict. be touched because if 3 ... fg then
4 x g6 + hg 5 0 h3 mate. At the
I . . . & x h7 2 0 x g7 + &h8 3
same time mate is threatened by 4
0g8 + !. ■ ■
^ x h7. To ward off this threat
As you see the pinned bishop plays a Black covers the point h7 with his
very active role indeed. Since there queen.
is no defence against double check
3 . . . \&c2 4 0 h3!...
the king has to step aside.
This quiet move dots the i.
3 . . .&h7 4 0lg7+ &h6 5
Sg6+ &h7 6 08g7+ &h8 7 4 . ..&xg65 £ xg6+ fg6
0h6 mate. 0 x h7 mate.
By covering the rook at g7 the The ability to recognize in time
bishop also plays an important role contacts that are characteristic of
in the final stage of the game. certain pieces is a great art.

259
Mackenzie—N. N.
London 1891

The first move—l ^fg5!—is easy

enough to find, but how does White
keep up the pressure after 1 . .. g6
Here the contacts needed for a co¬ without giving his opponent time to
ordinated connection are already recover? Although not so obvious as
extant. The rook d 1 and the bishop the first move, there is a line White
g5 create favourable conditions for can take which will force a win and
a double attack on point d8. The in which the inconspicuous bishop
problem consists in opening the d- plays the leading part.
file and in diverting the opponent’s
2#h6!!...
queen and rook from covering the
square d8.The solution is relatively Co-ordinating the contacts against
easy. point h7, and then immediately
against f7.
1 Sxe5+!de2^xe5+!#xe5
2 . .. gf
Black could have prolonged the
gameby2 ... &e7, but this would The task facing White now is to re¬
not affect the outcome: 3 # x h8 + move the pieces obstructing the dia¬
&f8 4 #f6 with the threat of 5 gonal bl—h7. This is easily done:
&c6+ xc6 6 Sd8+ and mate
3 Sg4+!fg4 & xh7+ &h8 5
on the next move.
&g6+ &g8 6 tiSSfh7+ <dbf8 7
3 &c6 + 3 x c6 4 S d8 mate. # x f7 mate.

The heroes of the final stroke, i. e. Another example along these lines.
pieces assigned the job of check¬
mating the king, are not always the
obvious ones to pick for this assign¬
ment.

260
Bauer—Gollner loosened, they had not been
Berlin 1956 severed, because the knight had to
restrict the freedom of movement of
the bishop b2. The bishop’s full con¬
tacts with squares g7 and h8 were
restored by diverting the pawn g7
and the knight f6.
To avoid unpleasant surprises one
should pay attention to developing
contacts especially in sharp situa¬
tions.

Stein—Porthcb
White to play Stockholm 1962

It would seem that Black should

have no trouble repulsing White’s
attack. Thus 1 &f5 is naturally fol¬
lowed by 1 ... Cbh8, and the dia¬
gonal al— h8 seems to be securely
protected. But is the long diagonal
really as well protected as it seems?
If it were free, then White could
win by checkmate by playing the
bishop to f5. And the diagonal can
be opened—by two consecutive sac¬
rifices:
The second player did not want to
1 U, xh6+!gh
exchange on c4 having played
Black cannot avert disaster even if £l d7—b6? instead with a view to
he plays 1 ... (£) x h6 because this forcing his opponent to decide
is followed by 2 ^fg5+ {£)h7 3 where to leave the white-square
^rh4 + <3)g6 4 f5 mate. bishop. But this resulted in a brief
weakening of Black’s K-side de¬
2 &g8 + !...
fence, which is somewhat uneasy in
This sacrifice diverts the bishop and the presence of the two minor
at the same time hems in the king. pieces. Stein made masterly use of
this circumstance and played:
2 ... £) Xg8 3 &f5 mate.
1 £ xg7!l...
That’s how easy it is! We should
bear in mind, however, that al¬ A bolt from the blue! White can af¬
though the contacts of the knight f6 ford to forsake not only his bishop
with the squares g7 and h8 had been at c4 but even his queen.

261
1 ...ft xc4 2ftf6... fourth rank by sacrificing his last
pawn.
Threatening mate in two by 3
£)f5 + <&g8 4 £)h6 mate. Black’s I . .. ft xf7 2 Sg4! ftb3
last reply was 2 ... ^e7, but he re¬
The alternative is mate. But now the
signed after 3 I&f3 and justifiably
bishop blocks an important square
so, because 3 .. . ft x f6 4 & x f6
for the knight al.
£)d7 leads to mate on account of 5
B xd7. 3 Ogl! £)c2 4 Sg5 . . .
If the pieces needed for the mating
If White had played the rook to g5
mechanism are already in position,
one move earlier, Black would have
then the attacker’s task sometimes
saved himself by 3 . . . d5 4 <&b6 d4
consists in counteracting co-ordi¬
5<&c7ftd5 6 S xd5£)b3!
nated operations of the opponent’s
forces. 4 .. .d5 5<&b6d4 6<&c7!

The following study is an admirable The desperate attempts made by the

illustration of this procedure. black pieces to help their king are to
no avail. Mate is unavoidable.
O. Duras, 1939

The importance
of concrete calculation
of variants

We have seen that in the course of a

game the number of various con¬
tacts between pieces increases as the
opposing armies draw closer. At
first they happen casually and can
be co-ordinated only in exceptional
cases—usually as a result of a bad
The king is obviously in a precar¬ blunder. But as the heat of the battle
ious situation, but it feels confident intensifies more and more contacts
with so many pieces on its side. occur and it becomes increasingly
They will not fail to come to its as¬ difficult to keep track of them. The
sistance in time, or will they? And resulting co-ordinations of con¬
besides, the pawn e2 is on the tacts, i. e. combinations, often come
threshold of queening. And yet... as a surprise to the opponent. This
happens because he has not been
If*!...
following the development of
White diverts the bishop from the events with sufficient care or he has

262
in.. ......in.Hmiiiiimmiiimiii

been too engrossed in pursuing his Martynov— Go/stein

own plans to give due consideration Soviet Union 1976
to those of his adversary.
You wilt agree that critical tactical
situations warrant close attention,
Genera! reflection is not enough
here—precise and concrete calcula¬
tions are called for. Contacts, which
we have dealt with exhaustively, are
beacons designed to help the chess¬
player find his way in a sea of tacti¬
cal complications. As soon as we see
that contacts are beginning to take
shape between our pieces we should
seek ways of co-ordinating them,
i. e. we should keep an eye open for White’s disposition of forces threat¬
possible combinations. At the same ening the King’s side is more than
time we should be on the lookout enough to make up for the disad¬
for contacts between the oppo¬ vantage of his being one pawn
nent’s pieces and either eliminate down. All he has to do is to castle
them as a precaution or at least take and go over to the offensive. But
any measures we can to prevent White felt that he could launch and
their co-ordination. Combinations assault on the hostile king even
require precise and sometimes long¬ without castling, and initiated a
term calculation. It is naturally complex and very effective combi¬
sometimes impossible to calculate nation.
all lines to the very end. In such situ¬
1 £)c6!...
ations one’s experience and faith in
oneself and in one’s intuition will be This sacrifice opens the diagonal
helpful. Nevertheless, the main lines for the bishop b2.
have to be calculated and checked,
1 ... £l X c6 (if 1 ... dc, then 2
otherwise one may be in for some
Oxg7+!<&xg73 ^g4+ <£>h8 4
unpleasant surprises. Precision and
^fh4 ^ x d3 5 x f6 + , and
care are nowhere as crucial as in
White wins) 2 0xg7+!<&xg7 3
combinative complications. An in¬
&g4+<£>h6!
significant change in the order of
moves or failure to take the strong¬ The only move. Weak is 3 ... di?h8
est line can instantly decide the because of the unavoidable mate af-
success or failure of a combination. ter4&xf6+ &xf6 5^h5.

Let us consider some examples. 4&f4+ <£>h5 5 &e2 + (?)...

An inaccurate continuation, show¬

ing that White had not anticipated

263
the king’s being played to h6 or that opportunities this position offers.
he had acted on general considera¬ Although Black has other lines of
tions such as “The king has moved defence at his disposal, none of
out into the open, there must be a them seems to be sufficient to save
way to checkmate it“. But Black has him.
achieved substantial material supe¬ One thing is clear: White’s attack is
riority that has made it imperative on the razor’s edge, but it gives him
to make at least a rough check of good prospects even if Black finds
the line of play. the best moves, which in some cases
The correctand logical continua¬ is not easy to do. But after the woe¬
tion of the attack was 5 0—0—0! If ful queen check the attack suddenly
Black replies 5 . .. £ld5 then 6 peters out.
Ae2 + d5g6 7 ^fg4 + with mate at
6 ...&h6 7£e4...
next move.
Granted, the sally 5 ... £l d5 is no 7 -f- brings nothing. The sec¬
good because Black himself re¬ ond player flees by 7 ...(i?g7 8
moves the knight defending the i^fg5 + (S?h8 9 £le4 Og8 and de¬
king. The correct reply was 5 ... fends himself successfully.
£l g4! with a view to replying to 6
7 ... Bg8 8 i&h4 + d?g7, and
h3 with 6 .. . £) x f2. The attack
Black won.
can then take the following course:
7 Ae2 + <t>g6 8 Sgl+ Ag5 9 It can be boldly stated that in criti¬
^ x f2! for the time being White is cal tactical situations, nonconcrete
one rook down, but thanks to the approaches based on general con¬
threat 10 h4 he wins a piece and siderations are fatal, Especially in
Black’s king remains in an exposed sharp positions everything depends
position. on very precise and concrete calcu¬
lation.
5 .. ,d5g6 6 ^g3 + ?...
We should like to acquaint you with
White has lost the thread. Of course
a case in which the author of this
he should have played 6 Ad3 -f in
book came out second best.
order to be able to counter 6_
d?h5 by 7 0—0—0 thereby initiating
the variant just discussed.
Black, however, has an effective
counterstroke at his disposal 6 . . .
£le4! which is based on 7 £l x e4
£l b4. But even if Black embarks on
this course White retains a very
strong attack, e. g. 7 Ae2! f5 8
^f 3! with the formidable threat of
9 ^h5 mate. Naturally this variant
does not take full advantage of the

264
nmmi

Averbakh—Tal may find that the ensuing position

Riga 1958 has some subtleties which refute the
original assessment.

Simagin—Beilin
Vilna 1946

In this position Tal sacrificed a

piece for two pawns:

1 . . . £) x e4 2 £) x e4 & f5 3 £) fd2 White to play

£) xd5
To win a pawn, White embarked on
White could have repulsed the at¬ a combination involving—as he
tack and retained an advantage in thought—the temporary sacrifice of
material by 4 ^fe7 5
a piece.
Sad8 6 Sel! although the game is
still very involved and sharp. I had 1 £g6 fg 2 0 x e6 *f7 3 £ x b7
gone through several similar var¬
iants when I suddenly decided to Black may not touch the knight be¬
recapture a pawn immediately by 4 cause of 4 0 x f6 -I-, but in this case
x d6. After that I hoped to be
White is a pawn up.
able to find a way out of the situa¬ Apparently this is as far as White’s
tion with one piece up against a calculation went. But there fol¬
pawn. Not having thoroughly ex¬ lowed an unexpected blow.
amined the consequences, I took
the pawn on d6. But already after 3 ...£d5!
4 ... f6 it was clear that White Black used a standard double attack
immediately loses a piece and winds combination. He threatened mate
up with a pawn minus. That is how I after giving check on f2, and the
was punished for my nonconcrete knight on b7 is hanging. White had
approach. no alternative:
If one decides to play a combination
it is very important to make a cor¬ 4 Se2&xb7 5 Sc5 Sad8 6 0e5,
rect and accurate assessment of the but after 6 .. . t^f7 he was unable
ensuing position. Otherwise one to recover the piece and lost.

265
The danger of such unexpected £)f3 and the queen is trapped.
counterstrokes is particularly great
And here is an example in which my
in sharp and tactically intricate situ¬
opponent underestimated the
ations. That is why in calculating a
strength of an attack.
combination one should examine
very closely even the obvious lines
Averbakh—Zita
to avoid unpleasant consequences.
Szczawno Zdrdj 1950

Guldin —Averbakh
Lugansk 1955

The position is extraordinarily

Black to play sharp. Black’s king stands exposed,
but it is protected by a queen and a
I had been working up to this posi¬
rook and there seems to be no way
tion for several moves inwardly of getting at it.
hoping for a concealed combina¬
On the other hand, the White king
tion. My partner had hardly played
is relatively safe for the present, al¬
£)f3—d2 before I instantly replied
though Black has two strong centre
1 ... ^1 x f2 2 (£> x f 2 l^fh4 +.
pawns which are about to move for¬
The answer 3 g3 seems to be forced, ward and threaten the king.
for if the king tries to evade the at¬
On balance, therefore, the two
tack by moving to e2 then 3 .. .
sides have good chances. The only
S x e3+ follows, but if it moves to
question is who will be the first to
gl then the rook el is lost. What pose real threats.
happened then was 3 ...^fxh2 +
4 £kg2 £)f6! with a strong black at¬ 1 &f5 d3
tack which quickly led to victory. What should White do next? If he
But when I went about preparing a takes the intrusive pawn he exposes
commentary on the game I dis¬ his king, if he does not, then the
covered that there was a “hole” in Black pawn threatens to continue
the combination. After 2 . .. its advance.
Ie3fh4 + the king could still return to In situations such as this one should
gl, because if 3 C£*gl! X el then 4 weigh every change in position very

266
 ..mini.nun.h..

carefully no matter how insignifi¬ Playing in such situations can be li¬

cant, because they may give rise to kened to a balancing act under¬
astonishing combinations. neath the roof of a circus tent where
the slightest inattentiveness leads to
2 2 f4 . . .
loss of balance and fall.
White simply disregards Black’s
We shall conclude this chapter with
threat and throws another rook into
an example from games played by
the attack.
candidates contending for the
2 .. .d2 + 3&dl e3 world title.

White’s king is in mortal danger

Fischer—Larsen
now. Black threatens e3—e2 4-
Denver 1971
against which there is no straight¬
forward defence. 4 2 e4 is still fol¬
lowed by 4 ... e2 4- and Black re¬
tains the upper hand through 5
2 x e2 ^fxe2+ 6 (2) x e2
dl(i^f) + .To4 2g4 + Black also
has a combination at his disposal:
4 . . . 2 g6 and if 5 2 X g6 4- hg 6
& x g6 4- then 6 ... (2) x f8 and
Black is a rook up.
And yet White takes up the gauntlet
because he has spotted a way of re¬
futing the combination. Black to play

4 2g4 + 2 g6 5 h6 + !... Larsen is usually known for his ex¬

This pawn sacrifice has brought traordinary inventiveness. In this
about a radical change in the situa¬ position his king is in a very un¬
tion. The king is steered to square pleasant situation. His opponent is
h6 and the h-file has been opened. obviously in control of the situation
here, but for all that the Dane
5 .. .&xh66 2 xg6+ hg7 found a brilliant combination.
t*2fh3+!...
1 ...&g6!
This is the punch-line! Black is
doomed beyond salvation: 7 . .. His intention was to wrest the in¬
(2?g7 8 ^fh8 mate or 7 ... (2?g5 8 itiative from Fischer after 2 2 X e5
i^fh4 mate. ^fxe53^fxd7by3 ... 2ad8
One may venture to say that even with threats against the king. And
first-rate grandmasters are hardly indeed they look quite dangerous.
immune to mistakes in sharp and in¬ But Fischer accepted the challenge
tricate tactical situations, especially after having made a thorough cal¬
when playing under time pressure. culation of the contingencies.

267
2 S x e5 «SSf x e5 3 «iSf x d7 Bad8 4 and which formed the crowning
&xb7&c3 + 5 <t?fl Sd2 conclusion of the contest. In analys¬
ing these games the reader should
White seems to stand bad, but
pay special attention to the forma¬
Fischer had foreseen everything.
tion of contacts and their co-ordi¬
6&c6+! Se6 7 Ac5l. . . nation against a certain object of at¬
tack. We hope the analysis of the
White’s counterplay culminates in
games will give you pleasure and
this move. Larsen should have an¬
help you get a firm grasp of the the¬
ticipated this development, but he
oretical principles of contacts and
did not. He found a way of winning
combinations on which this book is
the queen, but the price was too
based.
high.
In acquainting you with the combi¬
7 ... Sf2+ 8&gl S xg2+ 9 national creations from the past and
<&xg2 &d2+ lO&hl S xc6 11 present we should like to stress once
& xc6 «SSf xc3 12 Bgl+ (ftf6 13 again that the combination is the
A x a7, and White manages to summit of creative chess and that it
bring his superiority in material to appeals equally to the intellect and
bear. the heart of man.

Only very recent examinations have Queen‘s Indian Defence

shown that Black could have main¬ Zukertort—Blackbume
tained the equilibrium by playing London 1883
4 . . . & x c3! instead of 4 ...
&e3 + . A line worked out by 1 c2—c4
I. Saitsev runs as follows: 5 &c6 + In the 19th century, when the open
<2?g5 6 Acl + f4 7 h4 + ! &f5! 8 games dominated the scene, Eng¬
g4 + !fg9&g2^d4 10&xg3 lish masters frequently started the
& x al, and White gets nothing game with a double step of the
more than a perpetual check. bishop’s pawn. This is how the
name “English Opening” origi¬
nated. But this opening often side¬
tracks into other beginnings such as
Sample games
the Queen’s Gambit, Queen’s Pawn
Opening or—as in the present case—
In conclusion we should like to the Queen’s Indian Defence with
acquaint you with some instructive the colours reversed. At any rate
games, all of which ended in an ori¬ this is what we would call the devel¬
ginal combination. We tried to pick opment adopted by Zukertort.
those duels from a vast number of
1 ... e7—e6
such games in which the combina¬
2 e2—e3 £g8-f6
tion was in the making throughout
3 £gl—f3 b7—b6
the preceding course of the game
4 &fl-e2

268
 ....tin.

The current preference in such posi¬ could have availed himself of

tions is to move d2—d4 and bring 12 ... dc! which is an ingenious
out the bishop to d3 where it is of move based on concrete calcula¬
course more actively placed. tion. If White hits back with the
bishop Black can immediately
4 . . . &c8—b 7
threaten point g2 by 13 . ..rag5!
5 0-0 d7—d5
and after 14 g3 Sfc8 he can look
6 d2—d4 &f8-d6
forward to a secure future.
7 £)bl—c3 0-0
White can of course capture on c4
8 b2—b3 £)b8—d 7
and, in his turn, threaten 14 &a3.
9 &cl-b2 ^d8-e7
But in this case Black can again play
Up to this point Blackburne has 13 . . . g5 with sharp and not dis¬
been playing faultlessly, but here he advantageous play.
commits a strategical mistake. He After the stereotyped move with the
permits his opponent to trade off knight, events are determined by
the black-square bishop, which has strategic considerations. It is not
an important role to play in this easy for Black to come up with any¬
line. One usually continues with thing effective to counter White’s
9 ... a6 or 9 ... c5, with prospects well-devised and imaginative king-
of an easy game for Black. Even the side attack.
exchange of the bishop is tolerable,
13f2-f3 £e4xd2
provided that Black finds a plan
I4&dlxd2 d5xc4
suited to the situation.
Black improves his pawn position
10 £c3—b5 £f6-e4
and opens the c-file at the same
11 £lb5 x d6 c7 x d6
time. He tries to initiate counter-
Blackburne takes with the pawn on play operations on the queen’s side.
d6 and tries to get counterplay
15&e2xc4 d6—d5
along the open c-file.
16 &c4-d3 Sf8-c8
12£f3—d2
Black assumes that he cannot bring
Zukertort follows a strategical plan home the e3—e4 thrust anyway and
typical of such positions. He has in doubles the rooks on the open c-
mind f2—f3 and then e3—e4 with a file, hoping for an opportunity to
view to staging an offensive on the throw them into the battle. But they
K-side with the aid of the pawn cen¬ only shoot holes in the air, while
tre and his two bishops. White’s attack is becoming danger¬
ous. Probably 16 ... a5 was a more
12 ... £d7—f6
promising defence plan, especially
This obvious reply deserves cen¬ in view of the fact that 17 .. . S&a6
sure. Black should be exploring all threatens to trade off the bishop
possibilities of rendering White’s and makes 17 ... a4 possible. To
plan as difficult as possible. He 17 a4 Black could then answer

269
17 ... 2fc8 with the threats of Relying on the force of his doubled
18. ... l^fb4 and 18 . ..Aa6.In rooks, Black apparently believed he
this case White could indeed have would be able to withstand White’s
had to reckon with Black’s counter- pressure by playing the knight to e4.
play.
22e5xf6 £e8xf6
17 Sal—el Sc8—c7
If Black had captured on f6 with his
18e3-e4 Sa8-c8
queen White would have com¬
19 e4—e5 £)f6—e8
pletely wrested the initiative from
20 f3-f4
his opponent by 23 t&e 1 g7 24
White’s offensive is developing S e5, but he would still have had to
without interference. 21 f5 is al¬ demolish his adversary’s bastions.
ready being threatened, thereby But Blackburne was planning, by
opening files on the king-side. tactical means, not only to stem the
Black can prevent this by playing hostile attack but to take over the
20 ... f5 himself and replying to 21 reins. White frustrates this plan in a
ef by 21 . . . x f6, thereby threat¬ brilliant fashion.
ening to post the knight on e4. The
23f4-f5!!
best reply for White is to play 22
Se5 in order to counter 22 ... This does credit to Zukertort’s tac¬
£le4 with 23 ^fe2, repeating the tical perspicacity. To decide to
threat of f4—f5. Black must defend make this move he must have calcu¬
himself by 23 .. . i^f7, and if 24 lated its consequences far in ad¬
)%4then24 .. . Sc2!25 & x c2 vance and clearly visualized the
S x c2 26 Act Ac8. Although course of future events. That is why
White wins an exchange, the game this move deserves two exclamation
now proceeds along tactical lines marks. This is the beginning of a
and thanks to his strong forward- forced development.
based knight on e4 Black now has
23 ... £)f6~e4
prospects of counterplay.
24Ad3xe4 d5xe4
20 ... g7—g6
21 Sel-e3 f7-f5
528
Compared with the variation ex¬
amined above, the line embarked
upon by Black is decidedly inferior.
White made a useful move by play¬
ing the rook to e3, whilst Black
weakened his king’s position. For
this reason 21 ... £)g7 would have
been more consistent, and only af¬
ter 22 g4 to continue by 22 ... f5
23 ef x f6.

270
 ♦.*.u*...

This position had apparently ap¬ 28 ... Sc8-c5

pealed to Black as well. The threat 29 0 fl—f8 + !
of 25 . . . Sc2 apparently gives
White does not relent. Incidentally
White no time to capture on g6.
White can also change the sequence
And yet!
by playing first 29 ^ x e4 0 x b2
25f5xg6! Sc7—c2 and then 30 Sf8+ # xf8 31
26g6xh7+ <&g8-h8 # X e5 + <S!fg7 32 &e8 + <£> X h7
27 d4—d5 + e6—e5 33 Sh3 + l^fh6 34 ^f7 + with
mate on next move. The fact that
there are two lines of play leading
to victory in no way detracts from
the value of the combination, it only
serves to stress the impetus of the at¬
tack.

29 .. . d>H8x h7
No better is 29 ... ^ x f8 30
& X e5+ &xh731 & x e4+ with
a quick mate.

30&b4xe4+ &h7-g7
28&d2-b4!! 31^b2xe5+!
This had escaped Blackburne’s no¬ The penultimate sacrifice; but 31
tice ! But such stunning moves can O f5 was also possible.
be overlooked occasionally.
31 ... <£>g7xf8
White’s queen, which is being frivo¬
32 &e5—g7+ !
lously sacrificed here, is actually
unassailable because after 28 .. . The final chord! Black resigned be¬
t&l x b4 29 & x e5 + & x h7 30 cause he is mated after 32 ...
Sh3+ <£>g6 31 Og3 + White’s <&xg7 33 1&xe7+.
second rook enters the arena and In this game the combination
White, with his superior forces, eas¬ evolved as a result of the fact that
ily mates his opponent’s king. Black tried to take over the initia¬
What is Black to do now? If he tive by force in a situation that did
plays his queen to e8 then 29 1^fd6 n ot pro vi de s u f f ici e nt j u s ti f icatio n
decides immediately, for White for such a course. In the decisive
threatens to take on e5 or to play 30 moment both of White’s rooks and
#f6+ <£>xh7 31 Sh3 + . a bishop were levelled at the hostile
If the rook on c2 is interposed on c5 king. The shattered position of the
then 29 l^f X e4 follows with an un¬ black king was an equally important
avoidable strike at e5. There is no factor for the successful outcome of
alternative to playing the other the combination, giving added
rook to c5. force to the attack.

271
 iiill

Bird's Opening White’s bishops are clearly directed

Lasker—Bauer at the opponent’s king-side and the
Amsterdam 1889 threat of 14 £lh5 is in the offing.
The simplest way of refuting it
1 f2—f4 67-65
would be 13 ... £le4 in order to be
2 e2—e3 £lg8— f6
able to reply to 14 £l h5 by 14 .. . f6.
3 b2—b3 e7-e6
This advance with the pawn would
4 &cl-b2 &f8-e7
also have been made in the case of
5&fl-d3
14 t^fg4. Why did Black disregard
The bishop stands insecurely on this
the threat? Perhaps he was planning
square, justifying the critique lev¬
to play 13 . . . B fc8 in order to
elled at Lasker by his contempora¬
stage a breakthrough of his own by
ries for this text move. They were of
c5—c4, but then it dawned on him
the opinion that Black could ex¬
that he loses his queen after 14
change the bishop to his advantage
&b5. At any rate this may be the ex¬
later on in the game.
planation for his move.
5 ... b7—b6
I4£)g3—h5! £)f6xh5
6£)bl-c3 &c8-b7
7£)gl-f3 £lb8-d7
8 0-0 0-0 530
9 £)c3—e2 c7-c5
It would naturally have been more
sensible to play 9 .. . £)c5 10 £)e5
fd 7! After an exch an ge of p ie ces
in the centre Black would have had
no worries about his future. But
now the bishop d3 is safe and White
is getting set for an assault on the
king-side in which this piece will
play an important part.
Black relies on the automatic con¬
10 £le2—g3 &d8-c7
tinuation 15 & x h5 f5 after which
Again Black fails to take advantage his position becomes quite tenable
of the opportunity to stabilize the because the bishop d3 cannot parti¬
situation in the centre by 10 ... cipate in an attack on the king’s
£] e4 and to nip White’s aggressive side.
intentions in the bud. His plan is to But let us leave the game for a mo¬
transpose his queen to c6 and ment and take a closer look at the
threaten mate on g2 at an oppor¬ position. The bishops are set to
tune moment. strike at the king’s fortress, which
Il£lf3-e5 £ld7xe5 they can demolish at a moment’s
12&b2xe5 &c7-c6 notice because there is not a single
13&dl-e2 a7-a6 Black piece defending it. To make

272
matters worse the bishop e7 and For the time being Black feels am¬
rook f8 hem in their own king mak¬ ply compensated for the queen with
ing it impossible for it to flee if the two bishops and a rook. But with
need arises. his next move, which Lasker must
Consequently it is not difficult to have seen far in advance, White
sec that after sacrificing his two mounts the final double attack,
bishops the least White can do is which gives him a decisive superior¬
give perpetual check. But is this all ity in material.
he can do? It is not: he can easily
22 &g4~d7 &e7-f6
mobilize the rook via f3 in an attack
23&d7xb7
on the king’s side. This means that
all conditions are satisfied for The rest is not interesting. Actually
launching a combinative assault. Black could have resigned, but the
Another question: was there no way game wore on for another fifteen
for Black to put up a stouter de¬ moves.
fence against 14 £)h5? Granted, In the meantime, Lasker’s combina¬
14 . .. £) e8 would have failed to tion based on the double bishop sac¬
Stop the bishop sacrifice at g7 be¬ rifice has become a classic. Here we
cause of 15 ... £) X g7 16 &g4. see it in conjunction with a double
But an experienced player on the attack, which Strictly speaking was
defensive would have chosen the decisive for the outcome of the
lesser of the two evils and played combination. The sacrifice of the
14 . . . 0fc8 instead of 14 ... two bishops after this pattern has
£) x h5 and surrendered a pawn by since occurred, in various constella¬
15£lxf6 + Axf6 16&xf6gfl7 tions, in several chess tournaments.
&g4 + &f8 for the opportunity of
evacuating his king and offering Italian Game
tough resistance. Steinitz— Bardeleben
Hastings 1895
15&d3xh7 + ! &g8 X h7
16^e2xh5 + &h7~g8 1 e2—e4 e7—e5
17&e5xg7! &g8xg7 2 £|gl—f3 £)b8—c6
Black has to accept the second sac¬ 3 &fl~c4 &f8-c5
4 c2—c3 £)g8—f6
rifice as well, for if 17 .., f6 then
the easiest way to the objective is 18 5d2-d4 e5 x d4
6 c3 X d4 &c5-b4 +
Sf3 &e8 19 ^h8+ &f7 20 ^h7.
7 £)bl—c3
18^h5-g4+ <&g7“h7
19 Sfl—f3 e6—e5 This two-edged knight move was
introduced in the early 18th century
This is the only way for Black to
by Gioacchino Greco, a native of
prevent being mated.
Calabria. Trying to outstrip his op¬
20Sf3-h3 + ^c6-h6 ponent in developing the pieces,
2lSh3xh6 + &h7xh6 White does not mind sacrificing

273
material. The ensuing positions White clearly has the advantage.
have been thoroughly analysed a He has outstripped his opponent in
long time ago. It was found that development, and besides, Black
Black is forced to conduct his de¬ has no time to castle.
fence with great precision if he
14 ... f7—f6
wants to maintain equilibrium.
Was this weakening necessary? Ap¬
7 ... d7—d5
parently yes. If Black tries to make
According to modern theory it is do without it he is in for even bigger
better to capture on e4 with the trouble, e. g. 14 ... I^fd6 15 I^fe2
knight. The move made by Black is c6 16 Sadi Sd8 17 d5 with the in¬
rejected because it puts White at an itiative clearly on White’s side. By
advantage. playing 14 . . . f6 Black hopes to
continue with 15 . . . (i)f7 and
8e4xd5 £f6xd5 16 ... S he8 and in this way to
90-0 complete the artificial castling op¬
eration.
Black has to contend with great dif¬
ficulties now. For instance, after 15 K&rdl—e2 &d5—d7
each side has captured on c3, White 16 Sal—cl
always has a telling attack after a
This move raised doubts among
sortie with the queen to b3.
many commentators. They saw a
9 ... &c8-e6 more precise continuation in 16 d5
(i)f7 17 Sadi,e. g. 17 . .. She8
After 9 .. . x c3 10 be 0—0, 11 (17 .. .£) xd5 18 £g5+ fg 19
£)g5 looks very dangerous, but the USSff3+ &g8 20 S x d5) 18 <Sflfc4
move made by Bardeleben is appar¬ (i)f8 19 &b4 b6 20 d6 with strong
ently not a bit better. pressure. But Black improves his si¬
tuation somewhat by 17 ...Shd8
10 &cl-g5 £tb4-e7
and then by sacrificing the ex¬
In worse positions like this it is very change after 18 £)d4 by 18 ...
difficult to choose the least of many £) xd5 19£)e6c6(19 ...Se820
evils. Perhaps 10 . . . l&d7 was not &h5 + ) 20 £) xd8 B x d8. Al¬
so unfortunate, e. g. 11 x d5 though White has the advantage, it
A x d5 12 A x d5 «S& x d5 13 a3 is no easy job for him to get at
£d6 14 Bel + Ct?f8, and Black Black’s position.
threatens to castle artificially by 16 ... c7—c6
15 . . .f6and 16 .. .&f7.
Why didn’t Black reply 16 . .. &f7,
11 &c4 x d5 £&e6 x d5 after which he could have immedi¬
12£c3xd5 &d8xd5 ately cornered the knight atd5? At
13&g5xe7 £c6 xe7 any rate, White would have gained
14 Sfl—el nothing from the exchange sacrifice
17&xe7 + &xe7 18 S xe7 + chances. Instead of 20 ... cd, Black
<&xe7 19 5 xc7+ <&d6 20 can give up the pawn immediately
S x g7 after 20 . .. B hc8 21 g3 by 20 ... £l x d5, but after 21
Bc7. B x c6 E hd8 22 g3 he gets no
Much later, Romanovski pointed compensation for it.
out another interesting attacking
18£f3-d4 &e8-f7
possibility, i. e. the knight sacrifice
19£d4~e6 Eh8—c8
17 £le5 +. After 17 ... fe 18 de it is
20 \&e2— g4 g7—g6
not easy for Black to defend him¬
2l£e6-g5 + <&f7—e8
self. For instance if 18 ... \&e6
then 19 B x c7 Shb8 20 i^f3 +
C2?g8 21 B x b7 and White gets
three pawns for one piece. Still
stronger apparently is 19 i&f3 +
&f5 20e6 + &g6 21 & x b7 Bhb8
22 x c7, and 22 ... E x b2 is
worthless on account of 23 ^g3 +
i&g5 24 \&f3! with a double attack
on f7 and a8. The lines examined
show that Black’s is not an easy lot
no matter how much effort he puts
into his defence, even if White plays
16 Bad. Bardeleben’s last moves were prac¬
tically forced, White making threats
17 d4—d5!
and Black warding them off. This
A very energetic move! Thanks to gave rise to a very tense situation,
this pawn sacrifice White paves the which offered many tactical possib¬
way for the knight to e6 via d4. ilities.

17 ... c6xd5 22 Bel xe7+!!

After that the course of events is The dance begins. To capture the
forced. Black’s prospects would rook with the queen would be bad
have hardly been any brighter if he in view of 23 B X c8 + B X c8 24
had tried to simplify matters by & x c8 4-. But if it is captured by
17 .. .<&f7 18dcbcl9&c4 + the king, then White still retains the
&d5, for after 20 x d5 cd 21 upper hand after 22 ... <3? x e7 23
Bc7 Ehe8 22 £d4&f8 23 £e6 + Bel -I- &d6 24 &b4+ &c7
C$}f7 24 £l x g7! White has won a (24 ... Ec5 25 Be6 + ) 25 £e6 +
pawn, and the rook end-game after &b8 26&f4 + .
24 ...&xg7 25 Ecxe7 + But the circumstance that the white
B x e7 26 Exe7+ <&g627 Sd7 rook at c 1 is without cover enables
Bc8 28 g3 Sc2 29 B xd5 B xb2 Black to make a surprising move,
30 Ba5 gives him good winning which he had planned in advance.
In this manner he hoped to refute opportunity of concluding his mag¬
White’s combination. nificent combination. But immedi¬
ately following this incident, he de¬
22 ... <2?e8-f8!
monstrated the finale to the specta¬
A worthy reply. “Help yourself tors.
please”, says the black king smiling This is how the game could have
ironically, “take the queen and get ended:
yourself checkmated on the first
25 ... <£>h8—g8
rank!” But Steinitz had thought one
26 Bh7-g7+ &g8—h8
step further.
27 &g4—h4+ <£>h8xg7
23 Sc7~f7 + !
At long last White’s efforts are
Another brilliant move. The rook crowned with success. In the end he
remains invulnerable. would have forced his unwilling op¬
ponent to accept the sacrifice. And
23 ... <&f8-g8
now he attacks Black’s king with
24Bf7-g7 + !
death-dealing blows from the
The obtrusive rook feels at home in queen and the knight.
Black’s camp.
28&h4-h7+ <&g7—f8
24 . .. <£>g8-h8 29&h7-h8+ d?f8-e7
25Bg7xh7+! 30&h8-g7 + &e7-e8

If Black evades to d6 he is mated in

three moves. The king is in no hurry
to move to d8 and has to be
prodded a little by White.

31 &g7— g8+ &e8—e7

32&g8-f7+ <&e7-d8
33&f7-f8+ I^d7-e8
34 £)g5—f7 + <£>d8—d7
35 l£jf8—d6 mate.

The final act of Steinitz’s magnifi¬

cent combination. The entire com¬
At this point the game came to an bination, which begins with the at¬
abrupt end. Realizing that he was tack on e7, consists of fourteen
losing, Bardelcben lost his compo¬ moves, not counting the different
sure and stormed out of the tourna¬ possible variants. But Steinitz will
ment hall never to return. Of course have hardly calculated them all up
the game was adjudicated as having to the last move. He didn’t have to,
been lost by him. for it was obvious that the com¬
This unfair behaviour on the part of bined attack with the three White
Bardeleben deprived Steinitz of the pieces would lead to victory from

276
 iiiiiiiiiiiiliililllliH

the moment White’s queen pene¬ to provoke an exchange on c4 in or¬

trated ath7. der to capture the pawn on c4 with
But let us return to the position af¬ the bishop without losing the
ter Black’s 21st move. Only in re¬ tempo. But this approach is too leis¬
cent years was it discovered that urely, especially if one considers
there was another line, although a that the position can be opened at
much more modest one, that would any time, with a telling advantage in
have given White a win. Instead of development for Black.
22 0 x e7 4- !! he could have played 10 .. . &d8-e7
22 £) x h7! With this simple combi¬
A fine move. In response to White’s
nation based on double attack
deliberate play, Rubinstein sacri¬
White captures a pawn. After
fices a pawn. If the offer is accepted
22 ... S x cl 23 £l x f6 4- &f7 24
by 11 cd ed 12 £l x d5 x d5 13
S x cl & x g4 25 x g4 White
^ x d5, the position is opened,
wins the end-game in the long run.
whereupon Black can conjure up a
dangerous attack by sacrificing the
Tarrascb Defence knight at b4. For instance 13...
Rotlevi—Rubinstein £l xb4! 14 ab & xb4+ !5&e2
Lodz 1907 (15 £d2 0 d8) 15 . , . &e6 16
1 d2—d4 d7—d5 & d4 f5, and White is faced with a
2 £gl-f3 e7~e6 tedious defence on account of his
3 e2—e3 c7—c5 king’s unfortunate posting.
4 c2—c4 £b8-c6 Il&fl~d3
5 £lbl-c3 £lg8—f6
White concedes that his preceding
6 d4 x c5
move was abortive. Perhaps Rotlevi
This exchange poses no difficulties had originally intended to follow up
to Black. with 11 0 d 1, but he then realized
Nowadays one usually continues that he achieves nothing after
with 6 a3, to exchange only after 11 ... Sd8. 11 cd ed 12 &e2 was
6 ... £d67dc&xc58 b4.This worth considering. One gets the im¬
leads to the same position as in the pression that White should by no
game discussed, except that White means pave the way for the bishop
gains an extra tempo. on c8.
6 ... &f8xc5 11 ... d5 x c4
7 a2~~a3 a7—a6 12^d3xc4 b7—b5
8 b2-b4 &c5-d6 13&c4-d3 Sf8-d8
9 &cl-b2 0-0 14&d2-e2
lO&dl—d2
Placing the queen opposite a rook
The introduction to a capricious on a file is a risky thing to do, but
plan. White takes his time in bring¬ White loses another tempo if he
ing out his bishop to d3. His aim is opts for the text move.

277
14 ... Ac8—b7 into the fire, because by opening the
15 0-0 diagonals for Black’s bishops he
dangerously weakens his position.
It is not difficult to see that Black
has overtaken his opponent by two 17f2-f4 &e5—c7
tempi in development. No wonder 18e3—e4 Ba8—c8
that he gets an opportunity to dic¬ 19e4-e5 &c7-b6 +
tate the course of the game. 20 &gl—hi £f6~g4!
21 &d3-e4
15 ... £c6—e5
16£f3xe5 &d6xe5

There is a clear difference in the

posting of the pieces. Already
17 .. .&xh2+ 18&xh2
^d6 -f- is threatened with a double
attack against the king and bishop.
In situations such as this, in which
the opponent’s pieces are threaten¬
ingly poised against the king’s side,
one should exercise utmost caution
in organizing one’s defence. One
should not weaken one’s position White pins all his hopes of a suc¬
unless there is an urgent need to do cessful defence on this move, He
so. seems to have thought that he could
The correct continuation here was take the wind out of the sails of his
17 Sfd 1! If 17 ...<&c7with opponent’s offensive by exchanging
threats to h2 and c3 then either 18 the white-square bishops.
f4 ^ x c3 19 Bad or the supple 18 But even a superficial examination
B acl!, discounting the threat of shows that White has little reason to
the thrust at h2. What happens if have much confidence in his defen¬
18 .. . A x h2 + is replied to by 19 sive system in the centre, which is
(£>hl &e5 20 £) x b5? In this line exposed to fire from Black’s long-
19 . . , ^fe5 fails to 20 £)e4, and if stepping pieces. The only question
19 . . , ^b8 then 20 &xh7 + is how it can be blasted into smith¬
&xh7 21 B xd8 dSr xd8 22 ereens.
Ci? x h2 is possible, thereby recover¬ The sober line 21 ... x h2 22
ing the pawn a and getting approxi¬ ^h5 A x e4 23 x e4 x fl,
mately even chances. with advantage in material, or 22
In an attempt to put a radical stop ^ x b7 £) x f I with the threat of
to the development of Black’s initia¬ 23 ... £lg3 + could have been
tive, White begins to set his centre taken. But the approach chosen by
pawns in motion. But in so doing Rubinstein is of course much more
he comes out of the frying pan beautiful and impressive.

278
21 . . . &e7-~h4 White gave up, for there is no de¬
22 g2-g3 fence against mate on h2. Let us see
how Black’s attack would have de¬
"White goes along with the effective
veloped if White had defended him¬
main version of the combination.
self by 22 h3?
Now the overwhelming Black for¬
ces close in on the enemy king like a
pack of wolves.

22 ... Sc8 X c3H

23g3xh4 Sd8-d2!!
The entire white edifice, whose
bishop e4 is much too weak as a
foundation, collapses like a house
of cards.

There are two lines here that lead to

the goal. The first is a combina¬
tional one. Although not as impres¬
sive as after 22 g3, the moves are
still sufficiently telling.

22 ... a xc3!23 & xc3...

The best reply. White cannot escape

being mated after 23 x g4
A fantastic position! Four black axh3+!24&xh3&xh3+25
pieces are exposed to attack but gh& xe4+ 26 <&h2 ad2 + .
none of them can be taken, because
mate or loss in material would be 23 .. . x e4 24 x g4 ...
the inevitable consequence. Here, too, 24 & x e4 &g3 25 hg
If for instance 24 & x c3 then & h4 would have led to mate.
24 .. . & x e4 + 25 x e4 S x h2
mate; but if 24 & x g4 then 24 ... 24 .. xg4 25hg ad3!26&h2
Axe4+ 25 Sf3 S xf3 26&g2
Sfl + 27 S x f 1 x g2 mate; and The only defence against 26 ...
finally 24 x b7 is followed by 3 h3 mate.
24 ... S xe2 25 ^g2 Sh3!26
A x h3 S x h2 mate. There re¬ 26 ... 3 x c3, and Black is bound
mains only one chance, and White to win in the long run with two
takes it. bishops against a rook.

24&e2xd2 &b7xe4 + Perhaps the second line is even sim¬

25 &d2-g2 ac3-h3 pler:

279
22 ...&xe4 23 £xe4£)e3!24 White is ahead in development and
S fcl (there is nothing else White immediately launches active opera¬
can do to prevent Black’s rook tions. But this approach is too
penetrating at c2) 24 . . . $3 x f4 straightforward, and a precise de¬
with advantage in material for fence should effect a complete
Black. equalization. A more interesting
game would follow after 9 b3 and
In this game we saw a combina¬
10 &b2.
tional discharge, White having left
his position wide open by advancing 9 . . . *c6xd5
his pawns.
The natural response. 9 ... 0—0
would have been followed not by 10
Philidor Defence
x e7 + x e7 11 ^g5, because
Adams—Torre
Black’s prospects are not worse af¬
New Orleans 1920
ter II .. .&xe4 12&xf6gf 13
1 e2—e4 e7—e5 & x f6 2ae8, but by 10 c4, a solid
2£gl-f3 d7—d6 move giving White an advantage in
3 d2—d4 e5 x d4 space.
4i&dlxd4
10 e4 x d5 0-0
In an attempt quickly to mobilize ll&cl—g5
the pieces, White takes the pawn
with his queen.
4 ... £b8-c6
5 &fl-b5 &c8-d7
6&b5xc6
Entirely logical. Not to lose any
time by retreating, White exchanges
a bishop for a knight. In this way
the queen does not have to quit its
active posting.
6 . . . ^d7 x c6
7£)bl-c3 £)g8-f6 This position seems very quiet. No¬
8 0-0
thing seems to portend the combin¬
A plan involving long castling mer¬ ative storm that is to flare up in sev¬
its special attention here: 8 ^g5 en moves. But if we regard the posi¬
Ae7 9 0—0—0. At any rate the bat¬ tion from the point of view of our
tle would have been more lively if notions regarding attacks and
this continuation had been chosen. threats we find that two white
pieces are posted more actively than
8 . . . &f8-e7
their Black counterparts. The
9 £)c3—d5
bishop has made enemy contact,

280
 iiiiiiiiuiiimitiiiiumiiiiiiiiitiiiiiimifiiiimiiiiiimiiiiuimimmi

while the queen occupies an effec¬ situation if he wanted to by playing

tive position in the centre, has a 12 . . .£xd5 13cd&xg5 14
wide sweep and is attacking the £l x g5 x g5 15 dc be 16 x d6
pawn ata7. i&b5 17 b3 S ad8.
There is only one free file on which In the end-game with heavy pieces,
White might feel inclined to double White can hardly convert his slight
his rooks. positional advantage, which con¬
And what course should Black sists in the better placing of his
take? What can he do to counter his pawns.
opponent’s obvious intentions? If
13 c4 x d5 Bf8-e8
one wanted to simplify the game
one could play 11 . ..£ld7 12 No wonder that this move is the
& x e7 & x e7 13 Bfel !&f6. In root of Black’s demise. White in¬
this line it would be useful to play tends to double the rooks on the e-
h7—h6 in between, i. e. 11 ... h6 file anyway, which means that even¬
12 £kh4 £ld7. In view of the uncer¬ tually the rook at e8 can be exposed
tain position of the bishop on h4, to the threat of a double attack. The
Black might be inclined to make the correct reply was 13 . . . t&d7! 14
tactical move 12 ... £) x d5. To Bfel a6 15 Be2 Bae8 16 Bael
recover material equality, White d8 in order to relieve the pressure
has to continue with 13 & x d5 on the e-file.
x h4 14 £) X h4 It x h4 15
14 Bfl-el a7—a5
& x b7, but after 15 . . . t&c4!
15 Bel—e2 Ba8-c8
Black has no problems.
But if Black is disinclined to make Without suspecting anything bad
simplifications and prefers to com¬ Black forfeits the opportunity of
plicate things, he might reply to 12 creating an “air pocket” for himself.
&h4with 12 . . .g5 13 &g5 £h5 By exchanging the pair of rooks by
and then continue with 14 . . . £&f6, playing 15 ... h6 16 &d2 &f8 he
thereby activating the bishop. Torre could have perceptibly improved his
has a different plan in mind. He defence. But now the white pieces
opens up the Q-side file, hoping to have created a vigorous two-fold
get counterplay there. active contact, threatening to attack
the rook e8, which, along with the
11 ... c7—c6
missing air pocket, triggers the deci¬
I2c2—c4
sive mating attack.
Moves such as these one makes al¬
16 Sal-el &d8—d7
most automatically. But the possib¬
17&g5xf6 &e7x f6
ility of playing 12 dc be 13 c4 merits
consideration. If Black had foreseen the endless
unpleasantnesses which he has to
12 ... c6xd5
contend with now he would un¬
Once again Black could defuse the doubtedly have decided in favour of

281
 17 ... gf. In this case an attempt to it is exposed to a double attack by
launch a double attack by 18 the two white rooks.
S x e7 0 xe7 19 0 xe7&xe7
18 ... &d7~b5!
20 ^fg4 + followed by 21 X c8
would have failed dismally to But Black still has some ammuni¬
18 ... x e7! Of course we have to tion left. While evading the obtru¬
take into account that 17 .. . gf siveness, the queen threatens to take
creates gaping weaknesses on the on e2.
K-side, enabling White to capitalize
19 ^fg4—c4!
on them by 18 g4 and the threats 19
£)h4 and 20 £)f5. A magnificent reply, which is also
based on the double attack. The
White queen is itself unassailable,
but it threatens its opposite number,
forcing it to retreat.

19 ... &b5~d7
20&c4-c7!!

18^fd4-g4f

The irony of fate! Up till now Black

could have opened the "valve" by
h7—h6 several times, but he never
took advantage of this opportunity.
And now fate takes its terrible re¬
The white queen is becoming a
venge, for the absence of the incon¬
nuisance. It seems to feel quite at
spicuous but fatal air pocket enables
home in the enemy camp. And all
White to carry out a splendid com¬
this is the aftermath of the mating
bination. Black's queen covers the
threat at e8.
rook e8, but White tries with a text¬
book move to distract it from this 20 ... &d7~b5
task. At the same time he stages a 21a2-a4!
double attack. One cannot say that
This sacrifice of an inconspicuous
this coming to a head of the situa¬
pawn is no less telling than the pre¬
tion came as a surprise. You will re¬
ceding queen sacrifice offers. In an
call that the rook stepped on the fa¬
involved combination all things are
tal square e8 five moves earlier, and
of equal importance: the sacrifices,
now, as could have been expected,

282
 ....mi.mu..

the attacks and even the simplest Irregular Opening

piece moves. White’s scheme can¬ Reti—Alekhine
not work without this double step, Baden-Baden 1925
for 21 & x b7 would have been
1 g2—g3 e7—e5
harshly refuted by 21 . ,.fifxe2!
2 £)gl—f3
21 ... &b5xa4 An experiment. White intends to
22 Se2-e4! &a4-b5 play the Alekhine Defence and win
23&c7xb7! a tempo by g2—g3.
A triumphant attack! The queen 2 ... e5— e4
falls on the battlefield. Black re¬ 3 £}f3—d4 d7—d5
signed.
Black undertakes nothing to refute
What actually gave rise to the com¬
the opponent’s plan. But 3 ... c5 4
bination in this game? First, to se¬
£b3 c4 5 £ld4 0c5 6 c3 £c6
cure the open file, White doubled
would have deserved consideration
his rooks on it. It was this battery in
as a means of winning time for de¬
the end that determined the out¬
velopment.
come of the game. Secondly, the ac¬
tive posting of White’s queen also 4 d2—d3 e4 x d3
played a role and enabled White to 5&dlxd3 £)g8-f6
offer several times to sacrifice it. 6&fl-g2 £f8-b4 +
The fact that the principal pieces in¬ For the time being Alekhine does
volved in the combination, namely not get involved in the struggle for
the queen and the two rooks, were the centre, but tries to mobilize his
effectively placed is unquestionably forces as quickly as possible.
an important factor. But this alone
7&cl-d2 g>b4xd2 +
was not decisive. No less significant
8 £)bl x d2 0-0
in carrying out the combination
9 c2—c4
were the three weaknesses in
Black’s position. First, there was the The opponents are pursuing differ¬
rook e8 that was exposed to double ent strategies. Alekhine castled
attack; secondly, the unfortunate early, while Reti is in no hurry to do
posting of Black’s king, i. e. the so. Instead, he increases pressure in
missing air pocket, on account of the centre and wants to force open
which there was a mating threat on the diagonal of the bishop g2. Ap¬
the 8th rank thirdly the important parently he intended to reply to
fact that Black’s queen was not 9 ... c5 with 10 £l4b3, after which
covered. If the pawn had stood not 11 x c5 and 11 cd are threatened.
on a5, but on a6, Black could have 9 ... £b8—a6
parried 19\&c4with 19 .. . 3ed8 10c4xd5 £}a6—b4
or 19 ... Of8. 11 d3—c4 £lb4xd5
12 £d2-b3 c7—c6
13 0-0 Of8—e8

283
The initiative in this position is ob¬ bishops. But Black now has the pos¬
viously in White's hands. In my sibility of getting counter chances
opinion he would have done better on the K-side.
to concentrate his efforts on playing
20 ... h7-h5!
c2— e4. For this reason 14 Sfel de¬
served serious consideration. In this The second player hopes to weaken
case Black would have been forced the position of his opponent’s king
to seek a solution to the problem of by advancing his pawn.
developing the bishop c8. But Reti
21 b2—b4 a7—a6
opts for another plan: he tries to put
22 Sal-cl h5~h4
pressure on the Q-side and does not
23 a2—a4 h4 x g3
touch the e-pawn.
24h2xg3 &d8-c7
14 Sf 1 —dl *c8-g4!
A weak spot g3 has occurred in the
15 Sdl—d2 &d8-c8
white camp, and Alekhine is willing
16 £)b3—c5 &g4-h3!
to take advantage of it. White could
In this way Black succeeds in rid¬ parry the immediate threat by 25 e4
ding himself of the problem of de¬ £)b6 26 i^fb3, but this would mean
veloping the bishop c8 and in achiev¬ closing the bishop’s diagonal.
ing complete balance. Black’s idea
25 b4—b5
is based on the consideration that
White may not attempt to win a Reti doggedly sticks to his plan, but
pawn by 17 & x h3 & x h3 18 is taken by surprise by an effective
£) x b7, because if he does, then tactical stroke.
18 ...£g4 19 £)f3 £)dc3!20 fe
25 ... a6 x b5
£) x e3 and 21 & x f7 4- cannot
26 a4 x b5
save White on account of 21 ...
<&h8 22 £)h4 Of 8, after which
mate is threatened on fl.

17*g2-f3 &h3-g4
18&f3-g2

White did not want to exchange his

strong bishop, because he pinned all
his hopes on it. But he could have
had a good game by playing 18
& xg4 £) xg4 19 e4.

18 ... &g4-h3
19 Ag2~f3 &h3-g4
20&f3-hl 26... Se8-e3!

In the end White decided to avoid White seems to have underesti¬

move repetition and exchanging mated the strength of this move.

284
 iiiiiiliiiiiiiiiiillliiiiillltlEiiliitttilllra

The rook may not be taken on ac¬

count of 27 ... x g3+28 £^g2
C) x e3, but how can Black protect
himself against 27 . . . 0 x g3 -f ?

27 Cld4~f3

Alekhine rightly said that the only

defence was 27 &f3! x f3 28 ef!
But he was of the opinion that Black
would have the advantage after
28 . . . cb 29 Cl x b5 assum¬
ing that 30 0 x d5 is rendered The most obstinate line. Although
worthless after 30 ... 0 e 1 4- 31 White saves the pawn at g3 by 31
0 xel & xel+ 32<&g2 Sal. <&f 1 Cl x g3 + 32 fg & x f3 33
This assessment has to be corrected. & xf3 0 xf3 + 34<&g2 Oaa3 35
If we continue this line, we find that Sd8 + ££?h7 36 Shi + <&g6 37
Black’s attack is refuted after 33 S h3, he is faced with insurmoun¬
Od8 + <&h7 34 &h4+ <&g6 35 f4. table difficulties after 37 ... Sfb3!
Obviously 32 .. . 0 x d5 33
31 ... Cf6-e4!
& x d5 and only then Sa8—al
would have been more precise, but The second player’s tenacity is ad¬
Black can then give perpetual mirable. He introduces a new com¬
check. bination, capitalizing on White’s
disjointed pieces. Despite the fact
27 . . . c6 x b5
that the rook at e3 has been under
28&c4xb5 Cd5-c3!
fire for five moves it remains unas¬
29&b5xb7
sailable, because if White plays 32
If 29 i^fc4 then Alekhine could have fe Black replies with 32 . ., Cl x d2
played29 ...b5. and White loses the exchange.
29 .. . &c7 x b7 32 Scl—c4!
Black is not afraid to exchange A brilliant reply! If Black played
queens. Worse was 29 .. . 32 .. . C) x d2, White planned to
Cl x e2+ 30 0 x e2 & x b7 be¬ counter with 33 Cl x d2!, and if
cause of31 0 x e3! with some hope 32 .. . &xf3then33 S xe4!
of salvation. Alekhine thought this to be the best
defence, but the obvious weakness
30 C)c5 x b7 Cc3xe2+
of this line of play is that eventually
31&gl-h2
the rook at c4 would hang. I am of
the opinion that 32 Sd8 + 0 x d8
33 fe would have given White better
chances of getting a draw. For in
this case 33 ... Cl x cl 34 Cl x d8

285
would be of little use. Black has to 4 £)f3 X d4 £g8-f6
continue with 33 . . . Sb8 34 0c7 5 £bl—c3 d7—d6
£)2 Xg3> winning a pawn. This ad¬ 6g2—g3 £b8—c6
vantage is by no means easy to con¬ 7 &fl-g2 &c8-d7
vert on account of the loss of 8 0-0 a7-a6
pawns,
After the text move. Black also wins The two-edged line adopted by
a pawn, and the rooks remain on Black is characteristic of many
the board, which is of great import¬ opening variations of the Sicilian
ance for the further course of the Defence. The second player does
game. not castle for the time being, initiat¬
ing active operations on the Q-side
32 ... £e4xf2 in the hope of achieving certain ad¬
33&hl-g2 J^g4~e6! vantages there. Such an approach
This is the core of the matter. Black usually leads to complex, tactically
is attacking the rook and at the sharp positions, in which the Black
same time threatens check with the king can suddenly come under en¬
knight at g4. emy fire if it is not removed from
the centre in time. This is why
34 0c4—c2 £)f2—g4 + White is forced to take vigorous
35 <S>h2-h3 steps if he does not want to risk los¬
There is no alternative, for if 35 ing his superiority.
Ct?hl then,35 ... Oal + decides
9&cl-e3 Oa8—c8
the issue. There follows an elegant
10&dl-e2 b7—b5
finish.
11 a2—a3 £c6-e5
35 ... £lg4—e5 + 12 Oal—dl £le5—c4
36 <£>h3~h2 Se3xf3!
One could get the impression that
37 Sd2xe2 £e5—g4-f-
Black is in full control of the situa¬
38 &h2—h3 £)g4—e3 +
tion, especially in view of the fact
39 <£>h3-h2 £le3 x c2
that his knight has occupied a key
40 Ag2 X f3 £lc2—d4
position in the enemy camp and is
White resigned. After 41 0 e3 attacking a pawn and that the posi¬
£ Xf3+ 42 S xf3 &d5!the tion of White’s knight at c3 is ex¬
knight at b7 is lost. tremely shaky. But there is no rea¬
son at all to overestimate Black’s
prospects. While Black lost time
Sicilian Defence
transferring his knight, White cen¬
Ravinski—Panov
tralized his pieces and is now poised
Moscow 1943
for an attack—Black’s king has yet
1 e2—e4 c7—c5 to leave the dangerous area. In
2 £gl—f3 e7-e6 short, White, too, has some trumps
3 d2—d4 c5 x d4 up his sleeve. The situation has

286
reached a critical point and the Black’s position begins to burst at
scrimmage can begin any minute. the seams. A knight sacrifice on e6
is threatened.
13 &e3-cl £c4:a3
19 . . . £c4-e5

Almost as if plagued by bad con¬

science, the knight, which has
brought about the whole calamity,
is now defending its king recklessly
disregarding all danger.

20 Sdl x d7!

The hour of reckoning has come.

By sacrificing an exchange, White
distracts the knight from the protec¬
tion of e6, thereby throwing Black’s
Moves such as this, especially when
defence into disarray.
the king's position is insecure, call
for precise calculation and all at¬ 20 ... £le5 xd7
tacking and defence resources have 21 £l f4 x e6! f7 x e6
to be scrupulously weighed. 13... 22 &e2xe6+ &f8-e7
£&e7 was, of course, a more cau¬
Very bad is 22 ... (2>d8 23 ^g5 +
tious move, but Panov apparently
&c7 24 &c6 4- &b8 25 Af4 4-,
had full confidence in his position.
and White mates Black’s king.
14 e4—e5!
23 Sf 1-el &a7-c5
White at once goes on the counter¬
Sparing no effort, Black covers his
offensive in the centre and opens
bishop, at the same time blocking
lines for his pieces.
the white bishop’s access to square
14 ... d6Xe5 g5.
15 £ld4—c6 i&d8—c7
24 b2—b4
16£)c6xe5 £)a3—c4
White wants to distract the queen
The Moor has done his d uty, let
from guarding square g5.
him go! Having devoured a pawn,
the knight goes on to help his king 24 ... £d7—f8!
out.
The only defence. Black is already
17£e5xd7 £f6xd7 willing to surrender part of his pos¬
18 £c3-d5 &c7-a7 sessions for the sake of simplifica¬
19 £d5-f4! tion, but White of course has no
thought of exchanging queens.
White has obtained a strong attack
along the opened centre files. 25 &e6-g4!

287
In this manner the threat of 28 &g4~dl + !
Acl — g5 remains and at the same
A precise move! Black’s king is
time the g-pawn finds itself under
forced to flee to the Q-side, because
fire, Black's reply is practically
if 28 . * . *2?e6 or 28 ... <&e5, Black
forced, because 25 ... &c7 26
loses by 29 &d5 mate. But here,
& x g7 £)g6 27 Ag5 Sf8 is out of
too, it comes under the cross-fire of
the question on account of the in¬
hostile pieces.
evitable mate after 28 Ac6 + !
&xc6 29 2 xe7+ <&d8 30 28 .. . <&d6-c7
Sf7 + . 29Ag5-f4 + &>c7-b6
30&dl-d6+ <&b6-a7
25 ... &c5~c3
31 &d6-e74-

Black resigned on account of

31 .. . Bc7 32 Ae3 + <&b8 33
&d8 4- Bc8 34 &b6 mate.

Catalonian Opening
Mikenas—Averbakh
Moscow 1943

1 d2—d4 £)g8—f6
2 c2—c4 e7—e 6
3g2-g3
26 Bel Xe7+!
This opening was introduced by
Having eliminated the last of the Tartakover at the International
king’s guards, White begins chasing Tournament of Barcelona in 1929,
the king. All of White’s forces are hence its name: Catalonian Open¬
involved in the pursuit, whilst the ing. White posts his bishop on the
black pieces are relegated to act as diagonal hi—a8, intending to exert
onlookers. pressure on the Q-side.

26... &e8xe7 3... d7-d5

27&cl-g5+ <&e7~d6 4 Afl-g2 d5xc4

Advancing towards the centre, the Black tries to speed up his develop¬
king has not given up hope of sav¬ ment by capturing the pawn at c4.
ing his skin. But if it had chosen to
5&di~a4+ £)b8—d7
move to the side of the board, it
6 £)bl—d2
would have ended in a cul-de-sac,
e. g. 27 ... &e8 28 &e2 + d&f7 29 ‘ Black’s plan is to reply to 6 ^ x c4
Ad5 4- &g6 30 #e4+ (the last with 6 ... a6 and 7 ... b5. But
sacrifice) 30 ... & x g5 31 #f4 4- White intends to take the pawn with
<&h5 32 Af7 4- £)g6 33 #h4 mate. the knight, e. g. 6 ., . a6 7 £) x c4

288
b5 8#c2Sb8 9&a5 &b4+ 10 geous for White to advance the e-
&d2, with better prospects for pawn.
White.
13 ... &b6—d5!
6 ... c7—c6
Black remains faithful to his con¬
Thanks to the threat of 7 . ..b5, ception of piece play in the centre.
Biack forces his opponent to take If 14e4then 14 ...£lb4 15&e2
the pawn with the queen. c5 16 £lb5 £kg4 17 f3 &e6 can fol¬
low.
7^a4xc4 e6~e5
14 a2—a3
An attempt to solve the problem in
the centre and the development Consistent play. White is trying to
problem at the same time. prevent the opponent’s pieces from
taking up active stations, i. e, he
8figl-f3 wants to limit their effectiveness.
It would seem that 8 de Q :e5 9 But this costs him valuable time,
t&c3 would be a more precise move which Black uses to regroup his for¬
that would take advantage of the ces to his advantage.
unfavourable posting of the knight 14 ... &d8~b6
e5. But now the posting of the white 15e2-e4 £d5~c7
knight poses problems. 16&cl-e3
8 ... £d7~b6 If the white h-pawn were on h3,
9&c4-d3 e5xd4 one could say with certainty that
10 0-0 &f8~e7 the placing of White’s men is better.
It would be contrary to the spirit of But without this restricting move
this game to defend the pawn by and in view of the endangered
10 ,.. c5, because this would open knight d4, Black has numerous pos¬
the diagonal for the White king’s sibilities of counterplay.
bishop and slow down Black’s de¬ 16 ... £lf6—g4
velopment. 17 &e3-d2 a7~a5
Il£f3xd4 0-0 18h2—h3 a5—a4
12 &d2-b3 Sf8~e8

White intends to advance the pawn

e2—e4. Black wants to counter this
by piece pressure in the centre. Who
will be vindicated?

13&d3-c2

The queen has to move away, be¬

cause in view of the threatened
13 ... c5 it would be disadvanta- -

289
Each side unwaveringly pursues its 22 ...&b5!(22 ...£lb5 23
own plan: White tries to convert his &c2!) 23 Bad & x e2 24 & x c5
opponent’s hanging pieces to his £ld3 25 t&c2 £l x cl. But the attack
advantage and Black tries to do the penetrates.
same.
22 ... £c7-b5
The position has sharpened per¬
23&c3-c2 &c8xf5
ceptibly. White believes he can re¬
24e4xf5 £b5-d4
fute his opponent’s plan with the
following effective reply prepared Black’s pieces penetrate White’s po¬
well in advance. sition in short order. White’s queen
is still busy covering its ill-placed
19&d2-a5
knight. In the meantime the first
Black’s position seems critical. If for threats cast their shadows on the
instance 19 . . . ab 20 & x b6 be other flank.
then 21 A x c7 and White is a pawn
25 t£*c2 x a4
up.
There is no better reply.
19... Sa8xa5!
25... £d4-e2 +
This exchange sacrifice, which the
26&gl—h2 &c5xf2
enemy is virtually forced to accept,
promises Black good attacking Black’s initiative has developed into
chances in view of the badly placed an attack on the king.
white knight. But for the present
27 &a4-c2
there are no combinations in sight.
They develop somewhat later.

20 £l b3 x a5 g4—e5
21 &c2-c3

If 21 & x a4 then 21 . . . &a7!, and

the pinning of the knight at a5 gives
Black an immediate advantage.

21 ... &e7-c5
22 £ld4—f5

The knight has to withdraw, be¬

cause 22 Sadi ^ X d4 23 B x d4
£lb5 is very bad. But this retreat is White would like to defend himself
not the best one. The only correct against i&e3 by playing his queen to
reply was 22 £le2!, whereby the e4.
knight would have been able to
27 ... £)e5-g4+!
guard all accesses to its camp from
the outset. In this case Black would White has to accept this sacrifice. It
have achieved material equality by destroys the defence round the op-

290
 miiiiiiiimiiijimiiiiiiiiniiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiimuiiiimtiiiiiimjiiiiii

ponent’s king and prevents the de¬ the forces. And besides, didn’t
fensive move &c2—e4. Lasker once say that first the knights
and then the bishops should be
28 h3 x g4 &b6-e3
brought out? And yet the bishop de¬
The attack triumphs! Black’s queen velopment has its positional justifi¬
has approached the white sovereign cation. The first player tries to an¬
with obvious intentions: mate in ticipate the opponent’s activities
three is threatened. The rest is sim¬ and to restrict his freedom of ac¬
ple and easy to understand. tion. Moreover, the move 6 £slg5
contains a trap, because 6 ... e5? is
29Sflxf2 &e3xg3 +
followed by 7 de de 8 x d8
30&h2—hi &g3-h4 +
S x d8 9 £ld5 with material gain.
31 &g2-h3 &h4xf2
But after 6 ... h6 White intends to
White resigned. There is no effec¬ recall the bishop to e3 in order to
tive defence against threatened win a tempo with the development
31 ... £)g3 mate. Perhaps the most move 6 t&d2.
interesting aspect of this game is
6 . . . c7—c5
that the black knight threatening
7 d4—d5 a7—a6
mate at g3 undertook a truly heroic
8 a2—a4
journey, from b8 to
d7—b6—d5—c7—b5—d4 and thence This move is also part of White’s
to e2, while his opposite number by plan; it is intended to counter
contrast moved to a5 and had to Black’s Q-side play.
stay there for the duration of the
8 . . . &d8-a5
game.
9&g5-d2!

King’s Indian Defence It would not be to White’s advan¬

Averbakh—Panno tage to play 9 &d2 b5!, because
Buenos Aires 1954 Black would get the initiative for
the sacrificed pawn.
1 d2—d4 £g8—f6
The fact that the bishop has to turn
2 c2—c4 g7-g6
back does not mean a loss of tempo,
3 £)bl-c3 &f8—g 7
because this move forces the queen
4 e2—e4 d7—d6
to leave the square a5.
5 &fl-e2 0—0
6 &cl-g5 9 ... e7—e5

This was one of the first times that I Strange as it may sound, this pawn
used this bishop sortie. Viewed su¬ sally is a serious and perhaps even
perficially it contradicts the princi¬ decisive mistake. By blocking the
ples of development of the opening, centre Black gives his opponent a
because White crosses the demarca¬ free hand for an offensive on the
tion line without having completed K-side. The correct continuation is
the normal process of mobilizing 9 . ..e6 10£f3edlled &g4 12

291
0—0 with a slight advantage for 15 Ag4 X c8 ^d8xc8
White. For this reason according to 16 £) g l —f3 Ag7-f8
modern theory Black should imme¬ 17 d?el—e2!
diately play 8 ... e6 instead of
8 . . .&a5.

10 g2—g4!

Since the centre is closed, White im¬

mediately launches a pawn offen¬
sive on the K-side.

10 .. . £)f6—e8
11 h2—h4 f7—f5

Black tries to organize counterplay.

But his plan has the obvious flaw
that the Black king’s position is Impregnable bastions have taken
weakened by it. shape in the centre of the board,
that is why the white king feels saf¬
I2h4-h5 f 5—f4
est here. White now wants to
Realizing that opening the play on double the heavy pieces on the li¬
the K-side (13 hg hg 14 gf was ttle, which he plans to open at an
threatened) would only be playing opportune moment.
into White’s hands, Black tries to
17 ... Sf7-g7
keep the files closed there.
18 Shi—h4 £b8-d7
13g4-g5l 19h5xg6 h7xg6
20&dt-hl
Threatening to play h5 to h6 in or¬
der to exclude the bishop g7 from White has regrouped his pieces and
active play and preparing to ex¬ placed them as effectively as possi¬
change the white-square bishops in ble. He is poised to launch the deci¬
order to open up the white squares sive offensive. Black’s king has to
in Black’s camp. try to evade the sallies, which are to
be expected from the opponent’s
13 .. . Sf8~f7
pieces.
14 Ae2-g4 &a5~d8
20 . . . Af8~e7
Black sounds the retreat and takes
up an entirely defensive stance. An The threatened king had to be evac-.
attempt to become active on the Q- uated forthwith because from now
side could have had unpleasant con¬ on the moves are forced.
sequences, e. g. 14 ... A x g4 15
21 Sh4~h8+ &g8~f7
i£l xg4U*9fb4 16 hg hg 17&c8!
22 l&fhl—h6 £ld7~f8
Se7 18 b3!, and 18 ... H*9f xb3is
followed by 19 Sbl and 20 S X b7. Black relied on his K-side position

292
being adequately fortified once he In the end, White’s plan triumphs:
has removed his king from square the queen penetrates the enemy
g8 and covered the pawn g6 with camp through the weakened white
the knight. But the black knight is squares.
far from being as safe as it looks.
26 ... £)d7—f8
The pieces huddled close round it
27 Sh8 x f8 + !
afford only makeshift protection.
But White still has to blast a breach The only defender of the square e6
in the enemy stronghold in order to is eliminated.
penetrate it. The following move is
27 ... <£>f7xf8
made in preparation for this breach.
28^h3-e6 2g7-g8
23 2 al—hi! 29 £)f3—h4!

The mating attack is executed with

clockwork precision.

29 ... &e7-d8
30£)h4xg6+ Ci?f8—g7

Or 30 ... 2 xg6 31 2h8 + ££>g7

32 ^g8 mate.

31 £)g6xe5

Black resigned. If 31 . . . de then

the simplest reply is 32 2 h7 +, and
if 32 . . . <£> x h7, then 33 &h6
It is not difficult to recognize that mate. In this game the very re¬
Black is powerless against the sacri¬ stricted position of the black king,
fice of the bishop at f4, e. g. 23 ... which was wedged in between its
&d8 24 A x f4 ef 25 2 h4 &e7 26 own pieces, resulted in White’s
2 x f4, and he can no longer avoid making a breach in his opponent’s
telling losses in material. king’s stronghold by a sacrifice and
penetrated it with his pieces. This in
23 ... Sa8~b8
the end determined the outcome.
Since there is no way out anyway,
this move is as good as any.
Spanish Opening
24&d2xf4 &c8-c7 Averbakh—Furman
Moscow 1961
Black had to parry the threat of 25
A x e5! If, e. g. 24 ... £)d7 then 1 e2—e4 e7—e5
25&h3 £)b6 26 &xe5! 2 £)gl— f3 £)b8—c6
3 &fl-b5 a7—a6
25 &h6-h2 £f8-d 7
4 &b5—a4 £)g8—f6
26 ^h2-h3
5 0-0 &f8-e7

293
 6 0 fI —el b7—b5 & X f6 gf, Black has good piece
7 &a4—b3 d7-~d6 play in the centre.
8 c2-c3 0-0
12 ... d6xc5
9b2-h3
My opponent had prepared this
The Spanish Opening has been
move specifically for our encounter,
thoroughly and comprehensively
thereby boldly accepting the chal¬
analysed. Some versions extend
lenge.
well into the middle game, others
up to the end-game. For all that, 13 d4 x e5 £f6—e8
there is still room for theoretical 14e5—e6 f7xe6
disputes. 15&b3xe6+ <&g8—h8

9 ... £lc6~b8
This knight manoeuvre was used by
the Hungarian master Breyerin the
twenties. Eventually its memory
faded, but thanks to the research
work done by the Soviet masters
Furman and Borisenko, it became
popular again and currently it holds
an established place in modern
tournament practice.
10 d2—d4 £lb8~d7
11 c3—c4 The critical position. Although only
White takes advantage of the brief a few moves have been made, there
period in which Black diminishes is already a marked shift in forces.
pressure on the centre, and immedi¬ White has chances of attacking the
ately mounts active operations king, whilst Black has a strong
there. 12 c5 is threatened, but now¬ pawn phalanx on the Q-side. In
adays one usually plays 11 £lbd2. such sharp situations usually that
player is successful who is faster in
11... c7—c6
bringing the advantages of his situa¬
12 c4—c5
tion to bear.
Looks dangerous for Black, be¬
16 £lbl—c3 £)e8—c7
cause his pawn grid in the centre is
17 &e6—f5
destroyed, for 12 ... &c7 is fol¬
lowed by 13 cd & x d6 14 £kg5. White is clearly training his sights
Only subsequent experience with on Black’s weakest point, which is
this line of play has shown that h7. If Black should try to exchange
Black can play 14 . . . ed without the bishop f5 by 17 . .. g6 18 &g4
any misgivings. Although his king’s h5 then White plays 19 <&d2! with a
position is weakened after 15 strong attack. This explains why

294
 ..

Black is in such a hurry to realize The decisive mistake was to accept

his plan of occupying important the sacrifice. Much stronger was
squares in the centre. 22 ... £lf 8!, which would have
saved Black from direct attack and
17 ... c5—c4
given him every opportunity of ac¬
18 Acl-f4 £)c7-e6
tive counterplay.
19^f4_g3 £e6-c5
23 &dl-h5 + &h7—g8
In this manner tension in the centre
24 £)d4—f5
is maintained, but as the further
course of events will show, this is to By winning this tempo, White is
Black’s own detriment. Perhaps he able to enlist the knight in his at¬
should have tried to simplify the sit¬ tack. And a queen acting in concert
uation. He could have done this by with a knight are not a bad combi¬
playing the other knight to c5. nation when it comes to weaving a
mating net.
20£f3-d4 I^fd8-b6
21e4~e5 Of8-d8 24 . . . &e7-f8
25l^fh5-g6
Black’s plan looks very logical.
While regrouping his forces. Black Moves such as this are normally re¬
not only increases pressure in the ferred to as “quiet”, but the text
centre but also intends to dispatch move contains anything but a
the knight to f8 in order to protect “quiet” threat 26 £Jh6 + &h8 27
his only weak spot at h7. Black £lf7+ d?g8 28 £lg5 and inevitable
needs only one move to get excel¬ mate. The choice of replies is very
lent play. But White’s pieces are al¬ limited.
ready poised to attack the K-side.
25 . .. &g8-h8
Another advantage White has is
26 £)c3—e4 £lc5—e6
that the black forces are so far off¬
side. At this point he goes on the of¬ A desperate attempt to withstand
fensive. White’s onslaught, for 26 .. .
£) x e4 is out of the question on ac¬
22&f5xh7! &h8xh 7
count of 27 0 x e4, followed by
0 h4 4- with an irrefutable mate.
Black planned to answer White’s 27
«&f xe6with27 ... £ xe5 28
^ x e5 0 d5 in order to capture the
white queen after 29 l&e8 £& x f5!
30 & x a8 Od8 31 &c7 & x c7 32
x a6 i&c8. Of course White does
not have to go along with this line
of play, especially in view of the fact
that the simple excuse 30 ^fh5 +
<&g8 31 £)c3 would have given him

295
an advantage in material. But his at¬ 5 ... c6xd5
tack would have petered out after 6£)bl~c3 &f8-g 7
this. 7 e2—e3 0-0
8 £gl-e2 £)b8-c6
27 £)e4-f6!
9 0-0
White does not accept the sacrifice,
preferring to offer his own knight in Byrne’s opening shows no signs
order to pull down the last fortifica¬ of ambition and, as was to be ex¬
tion round the opponent’s king. pected, he did not obtain any open¬
Now 27 .. . gf fails to 28 B e4 &g7 ing advantages. Black has no diffi¬
29 Bh4 + &g8 30 £)h6+ &h8 31 culties whatsoever.
£)f7+ and 32 Bh8 mate.
9 ... b7—b6
27 ... £)d7xf6 10 b2—b3 &c8-a6
28e5xf6 Ba8—a7 U&cl-a3 Bf8-e8
29 Bel—e4 £le6—f4 12^(dl~d2 e7-e5!
At this stage Black is already in a The pawn position is fully symmet¬
real fix. rical. It can be broken only if one is
30 Be4 x f4 &c8xf5 willing to accept weaknesses in
31 B f 4 x f 5 Bd8—d5 one’s own camp. Nevertheless
Fischer goes along with the game
A satisfactory defence against 32
opening, because he feels that he
Bh5+ &g8 33 f7 4- B X f7 34
will be amply rewarded for the
i^(h7 mate is not to be found.
weakness of his pawn at d5 with the
32 S f5 x d5 active posting of his light pieces.

Black resigned in view of 32 ... cd 13d4Xe5 £)c6xe5

33 fg+ and 34 ^ x b6.

GrunfeldIndian Defence
R. Byrne—Fischer
New York 1963

1 d2—d4 £) g8**~f6
2 c2—c4 g7-g6
3 g2—g3 c7-c6

Black opts for the Grunfeld Indian

Defence.

4 &fl—g2 d7—d5
5 c4 X d5 14 Bfl—dl
White wants to have a straightfor¬ This seemingly natural move proves
ward game. The tension could have to be a serious error, which un¬
been maintained by 5 l&b3. covers the point f2. White should

296
 .;.iii....

have played the other rook to d1. In &d8 + (19&d2 &h3!20£ld4

his book “My 60 Memorable £lg4 21 Bfel—or, 21 £c2 h5with
Games” Fischer writes: “Correct is a strong attack—21 ... £l x e3!
14 B ad 1! Originally I had pro¬ should win) 19 .. . & x d8 20
posed the following ‘refutation’: B xd8+ B xd8 21 fe & xe5
14 . . . £le4 15 x e4 de 16 with a better end-game. And after
A x e4 CS9r x d2 17 B x d2 £c4 18 15 Bel (after 14 Badl
&xa8 £ x<j2 19 Bdl £c4 20bc &c8!-Y. A.) 15 . . . &d7! 16
(the best move) 20 ... B x a8 with Bcdl B ad8 Black wins a valuable
pawn recovery and great end-game tempo because his queen is on d7 in¬
advantage. But Averbakh dis¬ stead of d8. The relatively best
covered a hole in my analysis, i. e. move after 14 . . . ^3fc8! is 15 £&b2
20 Ac6! (instead of 20 be, which I (15 &cl £e4 16 £ xd5 & x e2 17
had carelessly stated to be best) A x e4 C£>h8! wins the exchange. A
20 .. . £ x a3 21 A x e8 A x e2 22 possible continuation is 18 x c8
B d7, and it is White instead of Ba x c8 19 £e7 Bc7 20 Bel Bd7
Black who wins. 21 Bfel ^f3!), although Black re¬
“I spent an evening scrutinizing the tains the initiative by 15 . . . ^ff5.”
position after 14 B ad 1... The If one weighs the pros and cons of
longer I looked, the more I liked what Fischer says above, we find
White’s position! For instance: that the opening initiated with
14 ...Bc8(14 ... £ld 3 is refuted 12 ... e5! gives Black a positional
by 15 ^fc2) 15 x d5 xd5 16 advantage and the initiative, but
&xd5 &d3 17 &g2 Bc2 18 White is able to stand his ground.
x c2! with a win. No better is But the situation changes radically
14 . . . &d7 15 &c2, followed by after the text move, and White’s po¬
Bd2 and Bfdl (if 15 .. . Bc8, sition immediately becomes critical.
then 16 &bl!).
14 ... £e5-d3!
“Another attempt, equally unsatis¬
15 &d2-c2
factory, is 14 Bad 1 t^fc7 15 ^fcl!
£le4!? (otherwise White consoli¬
dates his position byl6^fbl)16
£l xd5!^fxcl 17^3 xcl Axfl
18 &xe4 &a6 19£e7 + &h8 20
A x a8 B x a8 21 f4, and White
stays one pawn up. Really, how is
White to equalize, to say nothing of
retaining the initiative?
“At last I found 14 . . . ^fc8!—the
only move to maintain the pressure.
15 £ x d5 is followed by 15 ...
£ xd5 16 A xd5 Sd8 17f4 In this manner White wards off the
Bxd5!18&xd5&b7!l9 threat of 15 ... £ie4 and finds that

297
he has jumped out of the frying pan 19 C£>gl xg2 d5—d4!
into the fire. Did he have a better 20 5)e2xd4 &a6-b7 +
alternative? Fischer answers in the 21 <£>g2-fl
negative and considers the follow¬
21 (£>gl immediately fails to 21 ...
ing lines to prove his point:
£d4+ 22&xd4 2e 1 +! 23 &f2
“(a)15£d4£e4 16 5) xe4de!7
l^fxd4+ 24 2 xd4 2 xal 25
&b2 2 c8 with Strong pressure;
2d7 2c8 26 2 xb7 (26 &b2
(b) 15 £)f4 £)e4 16 5) x e4 de (not
2hi)26 . . . 2 xc3 27 2b8 +
16 ... & xal?17 5)d6) 17 Sabi
&g7 28 &b2 2 X a2.
2c8 18 5) X d3 &c3! 19&e2
But if 21 C$?f2 then the same would
&xd3 20 &g4 f5 21 &h3 &xbl!
happen as in the game 21 ...
22 0 xd8 2exd823 &fl Odl24
&d7!, e. g. 22 2acl &h3 23 £f3
<&g2 &d3!25 & x d3 ed and wins;
&h6 24 &d3&e3 + 25 & X e3
(c) 15 f3 &h6 16 f4 (if 16 5)f4? then
2 xe3 26&Xe3 2e8+ 27 <£>f2
16 ... d4!) 16 ... Ag7!resumes
&f5!
the threat of.. . 5) e4.. ” But
These lines of play examined by
White can defend himself more vi¬
Fischer prove that White no longer
gorously. For instance in the case of
has a satisfactory defence.
the faulty move 18 5) x d3 White
should first play 18 &b4; only then 21 ... &d8-d7!
may White play 19 5) x d3. In this Ac this point White decided to cease
case he can offer stiff resistance. resistance, thereby depriving the
15 ... £d3xf2! spectators of the fun of witnessing
an elegant finish: 22 (^ff2 l^fh3 +
This knight sacrifice gives Black an
23 <£>gl 2 el + ! 24 2 x el A x d4-
effective attack, which White ap¬
parently had disregarded or over¬
Sicilian Defence
looked altogether.
Averbakh—A ronin
16&glxf2 £)f6—g4 + Moscow 1964
17&f2-gl £) g4 x e3
1 e2—e4 c7—c5
18&c2-d2
2 £gl-f3 d7—d6
White was hoping for 18 ... 3d2-d4 c5 x d4
5] x dl 19 2 x dl, and he would 4 5)f3xd4 £g8-f6
have no cause for concern. But 5 £bl—c3 a7—a6
Fischer is up to something com¬ 6 &fl-e2 g7-g6
pletely different.
Usually one continues with 6 ...
18 ... 5le3xg2» e6, which results in the Scheve-
The bishop is eliminated, enabling ningen Variantjor with 6 . .. e5,
Black quickly to organize an attack which results in the Boleslavski Var¬
iant.
on the long white diagonal taking
advantage of the clumsy posting of 7 &cl-e3 &f8-g7
the white pieces. 8&dl-d2 £b8—d7

298
Black pursues an original, but two- would have taken on b5 with his
edged plan. He delays castling, knight, recovered the pawn and
choosing to develop his Q-side ended up with a better position.
pieces in order to exert pressure on
the enemy position from there.

9&e3-h6 &g7xh6
10&d2xh6 b7-b5

It would be shadow-boxing to play

10 ... &b6 11 0-0-0 e5 on ac¬
count of 12 £lb3, because 12 . . .
x f2 is too risky in view of 13
Bdfl! &b6 (13 ...&Xg214
Bhgl) 14 B xf6 £ xf6 15 &g7
and 16 6 xf6.

110-0-0 &c8-b7 16&e2xb5!

12 Shi—el!
This-is the punch-line! Black had
White wastes no time covering the reckoned only with 16 £) x b5 ab 17
centre pawn. Its capture would 0 x d5 B x a2 and intended to re¬
open the e-file, which is dangerous ply to 18 A x b5 with 18 ...
for Black, whose king is stuck in the Bal + 19 ££>d2 Q x el 20<£>xel
centre. iti x c2, because 21 A xd7 +
(£> x d7 22 & x f8 is harmless on ac¬
12 ... &d8-c7
count of the double attack 22 —
Prepares for long castling but. .. &e4+.

13£)c3—d5! 16 . . . e7—e6

White offers another pawn sacrifice In response to 16 . .. ab White had

to open files. planned a difficult combination on
the theme of double attack: 17
13 ... £f6xd5
£) xb5 tha.5 (if 17 ... &c 6 18
14e4xd5 &b7xd5
B x d5 £lb6 then an effective finish
It would certainly have been more is possible by 19 xd6+ <d&d7 20
understandable to castle, although £)c4+!!) 18 £ xd6+!d&d8 19
14 Ag4 would have followed, &xf8 + !£lxf8 20 £b7+ &c7
which would have been annoying. 21 £ xa5 B xa5 22b4 Bb5 23a4
Not wishing to lose the initiative, and White is an exchange up on
Black accepts the sacrifice. He has Black.
confidence in his means of defence. For this reason it is fully under¬
standable why Black declines the
15&h6-g7 Bh8-f8
sacrifice. But his reply enables
If Black had castled long, White White to come up with another

299
combination. I must admit that it is have lost immediately because of 21
not easy to find a satisfactory con¬ 3 xe8+ &>xe8 22 Be6+ &d8
tinuation for Black. 23 &g8+ £f8 24 lb xf8 + &d7
For instance, 16 .. . & x g2 would 25 3e7+ <&d6 26&f6 + .
be followed by the following at¬
20 ... &c7xd6
tack:
21 3e6x d6 &d8—c7
i7lbf6e5 18 3 xe5 + !de 19
£lc6i, which would have resulted in White’s attack has resulted in a pec¬
a quick win. Apparently 16 .,<e5! uliar position and an unusual rela¬
was the best defence in these cir¬ tion of forces. This position is typi¬
cumstances, even if White has a cal of modern chess. White has a
Strong reply: 17 f4. queen and three pawns against
Black’s rook, bishop and knight.
17&b5-c6! &d5xc6 One could argue about who has the
Castling on the Q-side would have advantage in material. But the fact
resulted in a bad position without that Black’s king has been deprived
the slightest chance of counterplay of its pawn protection and that it
after 18 x d5 ed 19 B e7 or even now has to be defended by pieces
19 & x h7. That is why Black stakes gives White the advantage. Al¬
everything on one horse and ac¬ though to convert it. White still has
cepts the sacrifice. some tough problems to solve, for
Black’s pieces can still be mobilized
18 £ld4 x e6 f7 x e6 to mount a vigorous attack on the
19 0elxe6+ &e8™d8 king.
20 Bdl x d6!
22 Bd6—d2 Ba8-e8
23 b2—b3 3e8—el +
24&cl-b2 Bf8-e8!

Black has doubled his rooks and

plans to exchange rooks.
25&g7-d4 £)d7—b6

It was essential to parry the threat

of 26 l^fa 7 +.

26 a2—a4 a6—a5
27&d4-c3 Bel—e5
28 f2—f4 Be5-e2
The culmination of White’s combi¬
Brilliant defensive play. 29 x a5
nation : he threatens 21 & x f8 +,
would be followed by 29 ...
but if the king flees to c8 then 21
3 x d2 30 & x d2 A x a4.
3 x c6 decides the game. Black
finds only one way of prolonging 29 Sd2 x e2 Be8xe2
the struggle. 20 ... Be8 would 30&c3xa5 &c6-e4

300
 jjjiiiiiiiiliiiili

This seemingly active move actually Sicilian Defence

facilitates White’s task. But even if Spasski—Petrosyan
Black had chosen the most stubborn Moscow 1969
line, i. e. 30 ... & x g2 31 l&a7 +
&b7 32 a5 £c8 33 &c5 + White 1 e2—e4 c7—c5
would have won by advancing his 2 £)gl—f3 d7-d6
pawns on the Q-side. 3 d2—d4 c5 X d4
4 £)f3xd4 £)g8—f6
31 &a5—e5+ &c7-b7
5 £bl—c3 a7—a6
32&b2-a3!
6&cl-g5 £)b8-d7
Now the excessive zeal of the black
More frequent is 6 ... e6.
pieces proves baneful to them, for
the bishop is pinned, while the pawn 7&fl-c4
at c2 is unassailable.
It is held that developing the bishop
32 ... £)b6—d5 on the a2—g8 diagonal produces
33a4-a5 £)d5-c7 the most lasting effects in reply to
34 a5—a6 + ! the preceding knight move. It has
been demonstrated in practical
The finishing touch. The pawn may
chess that White gets a good game
not be taken,because 34 .. .
by sacrificing his bishop at e6 if
Ct? X a6 fails to 35 & X c7, whilst
Black plays 7 ... e6. Black is not
34 ... £) x a6 loses to 35 l^fbS +.
much better off playing 7 . . . h6 be¬
34 ... &b7-b6 cause of 8 & x f6 £l x f6 9 1^3fe2 e6
10 0—0—0 ^3fc7 11 f4 with a strong
34 ... &c8 loses to 35 a7 <&b7 36
attack.
a8(&) + !,andif35 ... h5 36
a8{&) + £xa8 37 &b5! Oel 38 7 ... &d8-a5
^fb4, then Black also loses apiece. 8^fdl-d2 h7—h6

35&e5-d4+ &b6-a5 This move is more meaningful here,

36&d4-b4 + (i?a5 x a6 because the queen’s posting atd2 is
37^fb4-c4+ £)c7-b5 + less effective than at e2.
38 &a3-b4
9&g5xf6
Black resigned.
A double-edged decision. Trying
In this game I was fortunate to
not to waste much valuable time,
carry out several combinations
White is getting set quickly to mobi¬
based on the double attack. In the
lize his forces for a subsequent at¬
end a position evolved in which
tack. But he nevertheless exchanges
bringing the advantage to bear be¬
his important black-square bishop.
came a tedious matter! White ma¬
naged to do this by combinational 9 ... £)d7xf6
means, throwing the concentrated 10 0-0-0 e7—e6
force of his queen into the balance. 11 0 hi—el

301
 der. All he has to do is play his king
to bl and already his knight threat¬
ens to make a sortie to d5. Since
Black has no counterplay, he tries in
advance to reinforce the square e6
and to vacate the square f8 for the
bishop at the same time.

13 ... Sf8-e8
14<fccl-bl &e7-f8

It is difficult to suggest anything

White has outstripped his opponent better. Perhaps he should have
in the development, although for risked 14 . . . e5. If White had then
the time being there are no obvious played 15 S)f5 &xf5 16efef 17
targets for White to pounce at. ^ X f4 nac8.
Black is faced with the important
15 g2—g4!
decision of where to put his king. If
we take into account the fact that A bold decision! White sacrifices a
White’s main thrust is aimed at the pawn for the sake of opening a file.
king’s side, it would have been ad¬
15 .. . £f6xg4
visable for Black to opt for castling
on the queen’s side. Boleslavski has Perhaps Boleslavski was right in
proved that Black would have ob¬ saying that 15 .. ,e5 16 £lf5
tained an entirely tenable position A x f5 17 gf ef was the lesser of the
after 11 ...Ad 7 12 f4 0—0—0, two evils.
e. g. 13 f5 (13 e5 £le8 14f5d5 does
not look dangerous for Black) 16^d2-g2 £lg4—f6
13 ... d5! 14 fedc! 15 ed + 17 Bel—gl &c8-d7
S x d7, and White fails to turn his 18 f4—f5 <£>g8-h8
better development to account. If White’s onslaught becomes irresisti¬
16 ^e2 then 16 .. . &b4 17 ble after the f-file has been opened.
^ x c4 + Sc7. White’s prospects For this reason Black should have
are not much better if 16 e5 £ld5 17 continued either 18 ...efl9efb5
£de2 Ab4 18 &d4 Shd8! 19 20 &g6 <S?h8 21 A x f7 b4 (recom¬
x c4+ (£>b8. But Black’s deci¬ mended by Boleslavski) or 18 ...
sion to castle short gives White a e5 (suggested byTal).
free hand.
19 Sdl-fl &a5-d8
11 . .. &f8-e7
12f2-f4 0-0 Bondarevski maintains that 19...
13&c4-b3 e5 is the only way to resist the at¬
tack.
Before going over to the attack,
White puts his forces in battle or¬ 20 f5 x e6 f 7 x e6

302
If 20 ... & x e6 then 21 x e6 fe 6 Sfl-el b7—b5
22 £le2 followed by 23 £)f4. 7 A a4-b3 d7—d6
8 c2—c3 0-0
9h2-h3 £c6-b8

Compare this opening with that

used in the game between Averbakh
and Furman.

10 d2—d3

The standard reply is of course 10

d4. White chose the more cautious
line, without diminishing the ten¬
sion.
21e4-e5! 10 .. . &c8-b7
By sacrificing another pawn, White 11 £)bl—d2 £)b8—d 7
is able to throw the knight on c3 12 £d2-fl £d7-c5
into the final offensive. 13 &b3-c2 Sf8-e8
14 £fl-g3 &e7-f8
21 ... d6xe5 15b2-b4 £)c5-d7
22£c3-e4! £)f6-h5 16d3-d4 h7—h6
23&g2-g6! e5xd4
Much too passive. In this line,
There is no defence left. The which is currently very popular, one
tougher reply 23 ... £)f4 would usually plays 16 . . . g6 in order to
have been countered by White with fianchetto the bishop as quickly as
24 S x f4 ef 25 £lf3! &b6 26 Sg5! possible.
A c6 27 f6, which would have de¬
cided the issue. 17 &cl-d2 £d7-b6
18&c2-d3 g7—g6
24 £le4—g5! 19 &dl-c2
Black resigned, for 24 ... hg 25
White regroups his forces: he va¬
& x h5+ &g8 26 &f7 + &h8 27
cates square d 1 for the queen’s rook
0 f3 leads to mate.
and gives the pawn e4 additional
cover at the same time.
Spanish Opening
Karpov—Spasski 19 ... £lf6—d7
Moscow 1973
Black opens the diagonal h8—al in
1 e2—e4 e7-e5 order to put pressure on d4.
2£}gl — f3 £lb8—c6
20 Sal—dl &f8-g7
3 &fl-b5 a7~a6
21d4xe5 d6xe5
4 &b5—a4 ^3g8—f6
5 0-0 &f8-e7 The alternative was to capture at e5

303
with the knight. But the text move The punch-line. In view of 26 a5
undoubtedly looks more logical. White need not fear the capture on
b4, and he had worked out the fol¬
22 c3—c4!
lowing plan to counter the thrust
An unstereotyped and logical move, c5—c4:
since "White could not have streng¬
25 ... c5—c4
thened his position before opening
26 &b3-a2 &b7-c6
the game anyway. The irresolute
27a4—a5 Ac6—a4
continuation 22&e3l£^e7 23 £)d2
28 &c2-cl £b6—c8
would have enabled Black to play
23 ... c5. Karpov later said that he had in¬
tended to counter 28 . ..Axdl
22 ... b5 x c4
with 29 0 xdl, which could then
In response to 22 ... c5 White had have been followed by 29 ... £la4
planned to sacrifice a piece: 23 cb 30 &xh6 & xh6 31 &xh6.As
c4 24 A xc4 0ac8 25 A xf7 + things stand, 31 ... £lc3 is worth¬
&xf726&b3 + . less because of 32 A x c4 with the
threat of 33 l^f X g6 +, whilst
23&d3xc4 ^fd8—e7
31 ... £lf8 can be countered by 32
The root of all evil. It was essential Ocl with good attacking chances.
to trade off the bishop c4.
29&d2xh6 &a4xdl
24&C4—b3! c7-c5 30 Oel xdl £c8-d6

Spasski sets a “trap”, which puts

It almost looked as though Black
him in a losing position. His plan is
would wrest the initiative from his
based on the following continua¬
opponent, because not only 25 ...
tion: 31 A xg7 & xg7 32 &d2
cb but also 25 ... c4 is threatened.
0 ad8 33 & x d6? £f8, and Black
But Karpov had anticipated these
wins. But, White finds a better way
possibilities.
of converting the black knight’s
25a2-a4! weak posting.

304
31&h6xg7 &g8xg7 keep your attempts to solve the
32&cl-g5! problems in step with your assimila¬
tion of the subject matter of this
Spasski had failed to take this into
book. The purpose of these exer¬
account in his calculation. Since
cises is to reinforce the knowledge
trading off the queen leads to an im¬
you acquire in studying this work.
mediate loss of a piece, transferring
For instance, after you have gone
the queen to the king’s side gives
through a chapter you should try
White a decisive attack.
your hand at solving the problems
32 ... f7—f6 covered in it.
Once again the problems are ar¬
If 32 . . . S ac8 then 33 S x d6
ranged in ascending order of in¬
& x g5 34 £) x g5 £f6 35 £)e2 c3
creasing difficulty, and it is there¬
36 A x f7 and White obtains an ad¬
fore advisable to work them out in
vantage in material.
that order. You should first try to
33 &g5-g4 ($?g7—h7 solve the problems directly from the
diagram. If you are unable to solve
Otherwise 34 S x d6 followed by
the problem, then you should set up
35 £lf5 4- is inevitable.
the pieces on the chessboard ac¬
34 £f3-h4 cording to the diagram and try to
find the solution without moving
Black resigned, for there is no de¬
the pieces. If the methods proposed
fence, for instance 34 . . . Sg8 35
here for solving problems do not
A x c4 S g7 36 S x d6 & x d6 37
help you solve the most difficult si¬
£lhf5!or34 . .. £lf8 35 x g6
tuations, then you should try to
£ xg6 36 &h5 + &g7 37 S x d6,
work out the move sequences
etc.
through analysis.

Mating combinations I

Exercises Under this heading we have listed

for home study problems involving combined at¬
tacks on the king. Each of the six
You can now check your combina¬ positions contains a hidden combi¬
tive farsightedness, your skill in un¬ nation, which leads either to mate
ravelling intricate combinative situ¬ or—if it is warded off—to a decisive
ations and your ability to spot hid¬ advantage in material.
den combinative possibilities. All
exercises are arranged in the order
of the classification we have pro¬
posed, which will undoubtedly
make it easier for you to seek out
the combinations. We advise you to

305
307
White to play

Combinations on the theme of win¬

ning material 1

This group of problems deals with

cases In which the attack On the
king is accompanied by an attack
on another piece.

Exercise 13
Exercise 22 Combinations on the theme
of winning material
through pawn promotion

Exercise 23

Black to play

Exercise 26

Black to play. Can tie save himself?

Exercise 24

310
Black to play. He played 1 ... 0 x hi.
What is the best way for White to reply?

Drawing combinations I

Combinations ending in perpetual

check are demonstrated.

Exercise 31
White to play White to play

Exercise 39 Exercise 42
Exercise 48 Exercise 50

White to play

Exercise 51
Drawing combinations IV

Combinations involving perpetual

pursuit are dealt with here.

Exercise 49

White to play

Exercise 52

White to play

315
 Drawing combinations VI

614 These combinations are designed to

achieve a balance of forces in which
a draw is possible.

Exercise 61
Exercise 63 Exercise 66

Exercise 64

Solutions

No. 1 1 Sg2l, and the threat of 2

^ x h7 + <£> x h7 3 B h3 mate can¬
not be parried (Sultanbeyev—Colle,
Lesh-Antwerp 1926).

No. 2 1 .. . Bc3 was followed by 2

de! B x d3 (2 . ,.&xa3 3&d8 +
&f8 4 B x f7 £)c6 5 &e8 B x e3 6
White to play
e7 Bel + 7 Afl B x f 1 + 8
B x f 1 ^ X e7 9 ^ x c6 and a win
Exercise 65 for White) 3 ef+ &h8 4 &b2H,
and Black resigned (Kusmin—
Kotchiyev, Minsk 1976).

No.3 1 ... Bbl + !2&xbl

Bb6 + !3 £>cl &b2+ 4&d2
&c3 +! 5 (£>cl Bbl + 6&xbl
&b4+ 7 £>cl itibl mate (Vlk—
Duras, Prague 1899).

No. 4 1 &d8 + <£>a7 2 B xa6+ ba

3 &d7 + &b8 4 7+ &a8 5
&c8 + <£>a7 6 &b6 +! x b6 7
C^b8 mate (D. L. Ponziani, 1769).

318
No.5 1 Sbld3 2 Aale5 3Sb2 <&f7 Oh8 (3 . . . Se7 4- 4 &f8
<£>d4 4 Sb4 mate or 1 ...e5 2 <£>b8 5 Sd3 and White wins) 4
Ad8 d3 3 Ab6 <£>d4 4 S b4 mate Ad4! Sd8 5 Sa34- <&b8 6 Ae5 4-
(W. Shinkman, 1872). <£>c8 7 a c3 + <&d7 8 0 c7 mate
(E. Dobrescu, 1971).
No. 6 1 Sb7!i&e5 2 Adi 4- <£>a5 3
b4 + <£>a6 4 Ae2 4-! & x e2 5 <±>b8 No. 12 1 b4! I^xb4 2 Oabl
^e5+ 6<£>c8 ^e8+ 7 <&c7 ^xc43 Ae2! &c2 4 Ad3! l^c3 5
& x d5 (7 ... ^e5 4- 8 d6 0 b8 4- ac8 6^xc3, and Black
^xd6+ 9<£>xd6<£>xb7 10 resigned (Hulak—Romanishin,
a8(l^) 4- <£> x a8 11 <£>c7, and win Moscow 1977).
for White) 8 a8(^f) 4- & x a8 9
Sb6+ <£>a7 10 b5 Ab7 11 Sa6 + ! No. 13 1 Af7 4-!, and Black re¬
A x a6 12 b6 mate (A. Kasantsev, signed on account ofl . . . <£> x f 7 2
1953). e6-|- (Katalymov—Ilivitski, Frunse
1959).
No.7 1 .. . S xf3!2 ^ xg5
5 x f2, and Black wins (Stahlberg— No. 14 1 Ad7! and Black resigned
Alekhine, Hamburg 1930). (Fischer—Shocron. Mar del Plata
1959).
No. 8 1 Ac6!^xc6 2^xf84-
6 x f8 3 Se8 mate or 1 ... X a3
No. 15 1 Axf7+!<£xf7 2
2 0 x a3. "What happened in the ac¬ axc7+ & x c7 3 & x h7 4-
tual game was 1 . .. Ac8 2 A x d7 (Mecking—Tan, Petropolis 1973).
& xd7 3 Sd3 ^c7 4 &d6, and No. 16 1 &xf74-!<£>xf7 2
Black resigned (Lombardy— axd7+l&xd7 3£lxe5 4-
Kramer, New York 1957). (Matanovic—Sokolov, Yugoslavia
No. 9 1 fif5!!,e. g. 1 ... &g5 2 1953).
t^xd8-f & xd8 3 Sc8 ^ xc8 4 No. 17 1 ab74-!!&xb72
A x g7 4- <£>g8 5 Ad5 mate or Ac8 4-! (Mason—Winawer,
1 ...I&xg2 4-2l&xg2&xg2 3 Vienna 1882).
A X g7 4- GDg8 4 S c7 and White
wins. In the game actually played, 1 No. 18 1 aC7! & xh5 2 ae7 +
l^f2? eventually resulted in a draw <^f8 3 a xb7 4- <±>e8 4 ae7 4-
(Yudovich—Ragosin, Tbilisi 1937). <&f8 5 a x h7 4- <£>e8 6 a x h5
(Antunac—Hlibner, Dresden 1969).
No. 10 1 £f6 4- &g7 2 Oh5! &c7
(2 ...gh3^g5 4-^h8 4l^h6or No. 19 1 Ad8&d7 2c8(&) + !
2 .. .<f>xf6 3 l&g5 + or 2 ... <£> x c8 3 Af6 (conclusion of a
&xf63 &h64- CDg8 4&xh7 study by G. Sakhodyakin, 1939).
mate) 3 Ofl, and Black resigned
No. 20 1 a e7 is a weak move; after
($ahovic—Diaz, Vranjska Banja
1976).
1 . . . <&f8 2a X e6 <&f7 White lost
the exchange (Darga—Ivkov, Hast¬
No. 11 1 Sc3! Bh8 2<&g7 Se8 3 ings 1955/56).

319
No. 21 1 ... £d5 + 2 &d2 &b6! No. 30 1 ... B x hi is bad on ac¬
3 tflr x a8 + <£>d7 4 0-0-0 £)c7 5 count of2gf! B x d 1 4- 3 £l x d 1!!
&a5 £l x a8 6 & x b6 £l x b6, and & x d2 4 fg Ae6 5 g8(t&) + <&d7 6
Black won (Nimzowitsch—Ale¬ & x c8 + <2? x c8 7 A x d2 (Tal—
khine, Bled 1931). N. N., simultaneous game, Stutt¬
gart 1958).
No.22 1 . ..b4!2 B xb4b53h5
Ad6 4 Bb3 b4, and after 5 . . . No.31 1 £ xe6!&xe2 2
B e8 Black won by playing his king &xg6 + !fg3f7+ <&h7 4 Bh3 +
to c4 (Andersson—Torre, Biel Ah6 5£g5 4 <&g7 6£e6 + (Os-
1977). managi£—Gligoric, Sarajevo 1963).

No. 23 Black is unable to save him¬ No. 32 1 ... £f6!2cd B xb73dc

self, e. g. 1 ... £lc2 2 B x d2 B x c7! 4 & x c7 £g4! 5 hg &f2 +
£b4+ 3 CDb 1! CD x a5 4 Bd6! 6£Dhl ^2fh4+ (Unzicker—Aver¬
<&a4 5 x b2 a5 6 Bd4 a67 Bd6 bakh, Saitsjobaden 1972).
(conclusion of a study by W. Bron,
No. 33 1 .. . Bb2!2 &xb2c4+ 3
1976). .
<&hl t&f2 4 Bgl Ag4! 5 Bg2
No. 24 1 Iflrcl! £) xd4+ 2<&d3 &el+ 6 Bgl &f2 7 Bg2&el +
& x e5 3 <&c8 + <&g7 4 &h8 +! (Tal—Gligorid, Bled 1961).
<£xh8 5 £l xf7 + <&g76 £ xe5,
No. 34 l Bb6+ <&h5 2 Bb5 +
and the black knight is trapped
<&h4 3 Bb4 + &h3 4 Bb3 4 <&g2
(Matulovic—Zvetkov, Varna 1965).
5<£>a2!hl(&)6 Bbl &h6 7 Bb2
No. 25 1 ... &c3 2 Bdl and a draw through perpetual
B x fl +! 3 B x f 1 e3 (Hahn-Tar- check (S. Kozlovski, 1932).
rasch, Halle 1883).
No. 35 1 <£>c8+!<£>c2 2 Bb7!
No. 26 1 i&e8 4- ! Black resigned fl(&) 3 Bc7+ £E?d3 4 Bd7 +
(Kondratyev—A. Geller, Leningrad £&e4 5 Be7 + or 4 ... dPc4 4
1957). Bc7+ <&b5 6 Bb7+ <&a6 7
Bb6+ <&a7 8 Bb7+ &a8 9
No. 271 &a7! Aal 2&bl &c3 3
Bb8+ (H. Lommer, 1933).
<&c2 Aal 4 Ad4! Axd4(4 ... ed
5&d3)5&d3 Aal 6<&e4 No. 36 1 B al d2 2 <&b3 + Aa5 3
(P. Heuacker, 1930). B xa5+ &b6l4 Ae7&c7 5
Bc5+ <&b8 6 Ad64- <&a7 7
No. 28 1 . . . b4l 2 ab B x h4 3 gh
Ba5+ B?b6 8 Ae7! (E, Dobrescu,
g3 4 fg c3 + ! 5 be a3 (Lund—Nim¬
1971).
zowitsch, Oslo 1921).
No. 37 1 Ae3 & x e3 2 &{2 & x f2
No.29 1 ... Ob4!!2cba43b5 +
3 a5+ (D. L. Ponziani, 1782).
& x b5 4 Aa3 c3 5 Bbl <&c4 6 f4
x d4 7 <&f2 <&c4 8 <&el d4, and No. 38 1 Ae44- Cl? any 2 Ag2!
Black won (Kmoch—Nimzowitsch, (conclusion of a study by A. Tro-
Niendorf 1927). ttzky, 1924).

320
No, 39 1 0a8 Oxa8 2&a2+! No. 48 1 £g6+ &g8 2 £ge7 +
(Enigk—Effel, correspondence &h7 3 <£xe6& xbl 4<£>f7or
game 1957). 1 . ,.&e8 2 &d3!&xd3 3
No. 40 1 £f2i Sel+ 2&d2 £)g7 + <£d8 4 £ xe6 + <£c8 5
Oe2 + 3&c3 3 xf2 4 S&c5 + ! £)e7 + &b8 6 £)c6 + &a8 7 £led8
£& X c5 stalemate (H. Rinck, 1924). (G. Nadareishvili, 1959-61).

No.41 1 g7 Ob2+ 2&fl Sbl + 3 No. 49 1 «&d8! (1 &d7 &d6 2 <£>c8

£dl!(3 &g2 £&h2! 4 (£> x h2 Ob8 £le7 + 3 (£?d7 £d5or2b6&d5 3
and Black wins) 3 ... 0 x dl + 4 C£>c8 £le7 + 4 &d7 £)c6) l ...
&g2 Od3 5g8(&) Og3 + 6&hl! AdS 2 <£>d7! <£>d5 3 &c8 £le7 + 4
(G. Nadareishvili, 1957). (i?d7, and Black is in Zugzwang
(R.Reti, 1928).
No. 42 1 h6 &f8 2 h7 <£g7 3
0 x f7 + &h8 4 Sf8 + <£x h7 5 No. 501 £le4& xh2 2 Sg5 +
Ob8! g2 6 Obi &e2+ 7&a5! <£f8 3 Of5 + &e8 4 Oh5!&b2 5
Ail 8 Ob4gl(&) 9 Oh4 + <£g6 Ob5! I&f d2 6 Oh5 (A. Gurvitch,
10 Og4 + (W.Bron, 1927). 1927).

No. 43 1 <£b3 a22 &c2h3 3 &f3 No. 511 e7 <£f7 2 e8(&) + <£> x e8
h2 4 &a8 £k2 5 &b7 £g3 6 <£cl l 3 &e6 Ofl 4 Oa4! (4 Ob4? Obi)
hl(tb)+ 7 A xhl £ xhl 8 (£>c2 4 . . . O d 1 5 0 h4 (A. Selesniev,
(Ercole del Rio, 1750). 1919).

No. 44 1 £k3 &a8!2£a4 &g23 No. 52 1 Oe8! & xf6 + 2&d7 +

£lc5 &a8!4 £lb7 + <£d7 5 <£> x a8 C£>f5 3 e4 + <£f4 4 Oe6 &g7 + 5
(£?c8 (B. Horwitz, 1889). Oe7 &g8 6 Oe8 &h7 + 7 Oe7
l^fg6 8 Oe6 (M, Klyatskin, 1925).
No. 45 1 £le7 d5 2 £lec6 dc 3 <£>c3
followed by 4 (£> x c4 (Ercole del No. 53 1 d8(&)! & x d8 2 £ld5!
Rio, 1750). &b8 (2 ... &e8 3 £)c5 + <£a5 4
&d2+ &b5 5 £c7 + )3 &f4&a7
No.46 1 £le5el(l&)(l .. .de2
4 &e3 &a5 5 &d2 &d8 6 &g5
£l f3! ef stalemate) 2 £) g6 + hg 3
(S. Birnov, 1952).
A xd5 l&tcl 4&g2!&d2+ 5
<£h3 l^d3! 6 Ae4! &d4 7 &d5 No. 54 1 &g8&f6 2h7&g7 3
&f2 8 £&c4 i&fgl 9 AdS (J. Hasek, &b5! (3 &b6? Oa3 4 <£b5 <£h8 5
1965). h5 dDg7 6 h6 + ^h8, and White is
No. 47 1 Of7f £d6 2 Oe7 £f5 3 in Zugzwang) 3 . . . O a8 4 h5 £lb7
Of7 £)h64 Oe7 £g8 5 Of7 £h6 5 h6+ &h8 6 dDc6 £)d8+ 7 <£d7
6 0 e7 £f5 7 Of7 Obi + 8 &h2 Ob8 8&c7 Oa8 9 (£>d7or6 ...
£l a5 + 7 ^»b5 0 a7 8 dDb6 (A. Tro-
e2 9 £f6 Ohl + 10C£> xhl
itzky, 1936).
el(&)+ U^h2lfifh4+ 12&gl
&d4 + 13&h2&d6 + 14<£>gl No. 55 1 Ob7 h6 2 Ob6 h5 3 Ob5
£g7 15&hl &b3 16&>gl h4 4 Ob4 h3 5 Obi £)c2 6 Ob3 +
(G. Kasparyan, 1959). any 7 O x f3 (L. Kubbel, 1934).

321
No. 561 Agl <£>g3 2£c6!&>g2 3 £)ac3+3&cHOxal4Eb2 +
Ad4 h2 4 Af6 h I («Sr) 5 Ab2 &h5 {£>any5 Ea2H£)xa2(5 ...
6 £d4 &a5 + 7 <£>bl &a4 8 Aal B x a2 stalemate) 6 <£>b2
(G. Nadareishvili, 1954). (A. Herbstman, 1934).

No. 57 1 Ab6+!<1 Ac5?b3 2 No. 62 1 d?g4! &c8 + 2 <2?f3!!

&>d2 A xg6 3 &cl Ah6 + 4 <£>dl &b7 + 3 Sd5! &xd5+ 4 Ae4or
Ac2 + 5 ® any A g7 and Black 3 ...&xbl 4 Oa5+ 0>b7 5
wins) 1 . ,.&>d7 2 Aa5b3 3&>d2 Sb5+ (G. Kasparyan, 1969).
A x g6 4 (2?cl Ah6 + 5 Ad2 Ag7
No. 63 1 &>e2! &g2 2 dbf3 £)h4 +
6 Ae3, etc. (L. Kubbel, 1934).
3&>g3 £lg6 4£]b5!&>d8 5 &d6
No. 58 l Ad4lf3 2g3!h3 3&>b4 followed by 6 £) Xe8 (L. Kubbel,
h2 4 &>a3 hl(&) 5 QQb2 &>d5 6 1929).
Ae3 &>c6 7 Ad4 <£>b5 8 Ae3 &h8
No. 64 1 Ab5! Oh6(l ... Be6 2
9 Ad4 &f8 10 Ae5 &>a4 11 Ad4
A xe8 B xe8 3 Sb5+ and 4
&a3+ 12&>bl &>a5 13 Ae5&>b5
Q Xh5)2 Bd2+?0>e6 3 A x e8
14 Af6(14 Ad4?0>a4 15 Af6
&f6 + 4&gli£) xe85 Bh2!
l&d6 16 Ad4 (£>a3 and Black wins)
Bg6 + 6 Sg2 Bf6 7 Bf2> etc.
14 ... (£>a4 15 Ad4, etc. (V. Che-
(L. Kubbel, 1931).
khover, 1954).
No. 65 1 &f6f2 2 Ad5 + &b5!
No. 59 1 h7 &>e3 2 H8(tfr) &h2 + 3
(2 .. .0>b6 3 Ag2d2 4 &d5 + fol¬
&>g4! & x h8 4 £ x h8 &>d4 5 &f7
lowed by 5 £) e3) 3 Ac4 + ! (£> x c4
a3 6 £) X g5 a2 7 (£>g3 (or 7 (£>h3)
4 &g4!fl(&)5 &e5 + &>c3 6
al{&) 8 QQh2 &b2 + 9 Ag2 any 10
£) x d3 (2? x d3 7 (£>h6 (V. and
£)e4, etc. (V. Petchenkin, 1955).
M. Platov, 1905).
No. 60 1 f3 a4 2 <2?f2! a3 3 <£>g3 a2
No.66 1 &>e6 £)g6 2 &>f5 £h4 + 3
4&xh3al(&)5&xg2 &b2+ 6
0g4 &g2 4 <£>f3 £) el + 5 &e2
Af2 <&g5 7 (2?g3 &cl 8 Aa7!
£)c2 6 Ab2! £)b4! 7 Aa3! &c2 8
&f4 + 9&>g2 &d2 + 10 &>g3!,
Ab2! &>c8 9 Ac3! £g3 + 10 <£>d3
etc. (V. Chekhover, 1948).
&a3 11 Ab4 £b5 12 <£>c4 (G. Kas¬
No.61 1 Sf3 + !&g2 2 Bb3! paryan, 1963-64).

322
 Biyiasas 99
Index of names
Bogolyubov 88 139 149
Bondarevski 50
Botvinnik 481 482 509
Boudy 328
Bron 82 118
This index contains the names of Bronstein 56 444
those players and composers whose Buchman 501
games or studies are dealt with in Burn 87
the instructional part of the book Byrne, R. 129
(for complete games confer Index
of games). Capablanca 79 139 445
The numbers refer to diagram Casper 142
numbers. Centurini 196
Chekhover 18 72 138 144
Afanasyev 433 147 194 234 505
Aisenstadt 176 Charon, A. 156
Alatortsev 85 91 Chistyakov 314
Alekhine 21 79 105 152 195 Cook 405
322 327 416 473 487 Cozio 463
Alster 140 Czerniak 67
Amelung 460
Anderssen 231 Damiano 25 26 27 28 29 30
Antoshin 136 31 32 33 34
Aronin 57 Dawson 97
Averbakh 24 50 109 128 143 Defosse 512
328 478 480 484 502 523 Dufresne 486
525 526 Duras 153 456 521
Dtirsch 162
Bagdasaryan 452
Balashov 99 Eliskases 134
Barcza 56 Engels 232
BAt6czky 470 Euwe 21 65 92 107 322 327
Bauer 519 Evans 490
Bebtchuk 484
Beilin 524 Fedorov 320
Belenki 155 Fine 415
Berger 126 Fischer 527
Bernstein 112 Flohr 503
Betak 140 Forintos 133
Betbeder 202 Friedstein 57
Bething 159 Fritz 111
Birnov 343 414 440 499 Furman 46

323
Galic 200 Kasparyan 36 64 147 213
Gaprindashvili 177 344 442 450
Geller 109 492 Kazhdan 45
Geller, K. 113 Keres 96
Gendel 75 Kikovic 133
Gofstein 522 Kipping 446
Gogolev 474 Kling 101 204
Gollner 519 Kloza 515
Golombek 80 Koblenz 58
Gorgiev 60 70 Konig 76
Greco 508 Konstantinopolski 85
Grigoryev 158 Kopayev 478
Guldin 525 Korolkov 71 208 215 432
Gunsberg 49 Kortchmar' 412 475
Gurvitch 69 78 441 451 Koskinen 161
Kotov 3 412
Kretschmar 167
Halumbirek 455
Kubbel, L. 40 95 123 124
Harrwitz 486
175 207 465
Hasek 163 506 507
Kupper 135
Havel 209
Kupreitchik 23
Healey 466
Heemsoth 166
Larsen 527
Heissenb utter 166
Lasker 51 65 130 199 487
Herbstman 47 439
Lasker, Ed. 106
Hewitt 511
Lane 167
Hoch 53
Lawson, T. 97
Hohier 67
Liburkin 17
Holzhausen 489
Liiienthal 503
Horberg 128
Lisitsin 148
Horowitz 45
Ljubenski 137
Hiibner 5
Ljubojevic 476
Lolli 394
Ilivitsky 502 LfJwenfisch 127 141
Ilyin 495
Isakov 44 Mac Clure 469
Isenegger 110 Maciewski 24
Mackenzie 513 517
Kaiyev 66 Madler 61
Kakovin 68 102 Maiselis 190
Kaminer 103 119 Makogonov 18 151
Kan 72 127 134 411 Mandler 76
Kasanen 161 Manov 468

324
Marco 413 Ragozin 58
Margolis 176 Rasuvayev 23
Mar6czy 88 168 202 232 Reisch 467
Marshall 87 106 445 469 Reissman 516
Martynov 522 Reshevsky 107 490
Mason 513 Reti 94 122 188 438
Mattison 164 198 Richter, K. 90
Mees 52 Richter, W. 142
Menchik 481 Rinck, H, 37 42 121 154 206
Mikenas 151 393 443 448 454 457
Miszto 515 Romanovski 472
Motor 494 Romi 168
Rossolimo 516
Nadareishvili 447 500 Rowner 483
Nenarokov 158 Rubinstein 416
Nestor 152 Rudolph 395
Neustadt 59 321 Ryumin 141
Nikitin 44
Nikolayevski 392 Saavedra 93 427
Novotelnov 483 Sackmann 156 197
Nunn 325 Sairab 316
Salkind 146
O’Kelly 512
Schmid 126
Olafsson 135
Sehwers 453
Ormos 470
Simagin 83 314 524
Otten 459
SHva 96
Parr 479 Smeikal 476
Perelman 510 Smyslov 3 46 108 112 150
Petrosyan 5 488
Philidor 192 Soderborg 477
Pillsbury 340 Sokolski 144
Pirc 129 Soloviev 480
Pirogov 155 Stamma 35
PlatoVj W. und M. 171 493 Stein 520
Podgayets 120 Steinitz 511
Pogosyants 132 170 174 318 Stepaniec 137
Polugayevsky 485 514 Stepanov 482
Polyak 475 Stolyar 143
Popiel 413 Sultan Khan 149
Portisch 520 Surachov 501
Sushkevitch 75
Rabinovitsh 138 Szilagyi 514
Radulov 477

325
 ill!i!!!!!!!!Il!!i!ijli.. iiiiiiiiiiliiilllii

Taimanov 169 392 492 Voorema 180

Tal 523 Vuktevit 200
Tarrasch 22 162
Thomas 92 415 Weltmander 485
Tolush 136 491 Wheatcroft 479
Torre 51 White 54
Trifunovic 80 Winz 90
Troitzky 20 41 43 115 116 Wotawa 449
117 145 160 205 210 233
317 3 96 406 423 497 Yates 473
Troyanski 467 Yudovitch 411
Tshigorin 22 49 81
Zagoryansky 83 491
Uhlmann 61 Zakhodyakin 319 339 404
417 498
Varshavski 474 Zamikhovski 91
Vasyukov 488 Zarytshev 100 342
Vecsey 114 Zeletski 173 211
Velimirovic 325 Zhivayera 177
Verlinski 105 Zhukhovitski 169
Vladimirov 120 Zimkhovitch 496 504
Vliet 203_ Zita 108 444 526_

Karpov—Spasski 303
Index of games Kotkov—Akopyan 99
Lasker—Bauer 272
Lehmann—Teschner 96
Mikenas—Averbakh 268
Mohrlock—Kramer 96
Portisch—Karpov 131
Adams—Torre 280 Ravinski—Panov 286
Aronin—Kantorovich 94 R6ti—Alekhine 283
Averbakh—Aronin 298 Rotlevi—Rubinstein 277
Averbakh—Estrin 127 Rubinstein—Snosko-Borovski 117
Averbakh—Furman 293 Rusakov—Verlinski 97
Averbakh—Panno 291 Spasski—Petrosyan 301
Averbakh—Platonov 128 Steinitz—Bardeleben 273
Averbakh—Taimanov 121 Suetin—Kholmov 97
Byrne, D.—Fischer 125 Thomas—Shapiro 93
Byrne, R.—Fischer 296 Uhlmann—Averbakh 123
Capablanca—Dus-Khotimirski Voorema—Zakharyan 95
119 Zukertort—Blackburne 268
Hort—Zheyandino 98

326
This discovery prompted Averbakh Any chess enthusiast knows how
to focus his attention on the double important tactics is in the “royal
attack in the first part of the book. game” and how crucial it is to make
The second part is devoted to a thorough study of this aspect of
combinations. The author delves the game. But up to now opinion
into the question of what lies has been divided on the best way of
hidden behind the mysterious studying tactics. The well-known
concept of harmony of pieces. The Soviet international grandmaster
astonishing simplicity of the answer and chess author Averbakh has
he finds to this question enables him developed an entirely novel
to reduce the bulk of the approach, which is expounded in
combinations to a handful of basic the present work. His main aim was
elements. From this Averbakh to create a theoretical basis with
derives a convincing definition of whose aid the learner can
the term “combination” and effortlessly study the numerous and
introduces a new, promising system manifold tactical problems facing
of classifying different the chess player. Averbakh begins
combinations. All this is explained by examining the simplest situations
with the aid of numerous practical resulting from confrontations
examples including complete games between different pieces. He then
and chess problems. The book proceeds to analyse more complex
contains special chapters with situations and demonstrates the
numerous exercise problems for the importance of the double attack.
reader to test and consolidate his With instructive examples he proves
newly-acquired skill. In this way that double attacks in the broadest
Averbakh’s work is both very sense are the basis of most tactical
instructive and easy to understand. operations.

0 87568-218-9
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